Question
What if I miss a dose or take a double dose by mistake?
29 December 2017. Related: Adherence, All topics.
Hi, if i forget to take my pill on time, or maybe take it twice a day, without remembering i took it, then maybe overdose by mistake. Can it cause any harm to my health?
Answer
Missing an occasional pill is okay
Taking a double dose of HIV medication is usually okay  – but it is not a good idea. The main risk is that you might get side effects for a few hours due to the short time when you have higher drug levels.
Additional doses of other types of medication might require speaking to a doctor or pharmacist about the short term side effects.
It is better to get a pill box. Then you can see each day whether or not you have taken your meds. These are cheap and work really well.
Josh.
Answer revised 16/02/22
Hi Priscilla, a single extra dose of an antiviral is not going to cause harm to your brother. He can continue taking his treatment as normal e.g., at 12am and 12pm.
My brother was meant to take his anti-viral medicine at 12 am this morning but he fell asleep at 11 something and I went to sleep a little later so at 12am I woke him up gave him the medicine and he went back to sleep then around 1am I went to sleep. Just now he told me he doesn’t remember me giving him the medicine at 12am and he thought he didn’t take it yet so he woke up at 2am and took it. This anti viral medicine is meant to be take 2 times a day 12am and 12 pm. This is because he was tested positive for influenza A on Sunday (12 feb) but now he is basically fully recovered but he has to finish the anti viral.
So now I’m wondering what he should do, because he now has double dosage. Should he take it again at 2am tomorrow to give it time or should he adjust the schedule and take it at 12 am tomorrow?
Hi Dianna, yes you should still take your next scheduled dose. Even with a double dose, this type of medication needs to be taken regularly and it’s better to take a dose sooner rather than skip a dose.
Hi, I took a double dose of keppra at noon, I do have a gt so I could withdraw one of the doses to empty stomach. Should I still take my next scheduled dose at 5pm.
Hi Martha, is this for Parkinson’s? You should speak with your doctor before adjusting this medication.
My arm is shaking terribly. Can I take an extra lecardop I can’t control myself
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Hi Thumeka, taking a double dose by accident is not going to have a significant effect on your health. There may be a few more side effects for the next day or two but these will disappear.
I just take two tabs lyk now so stress it was a mistake an it was a last in a cointainer was thinking of buying another 2morrow acindental bom i swallow 2
Hi John, taking this extra dose is unlikely to cause any problems. Just be aware that she may experience some more prominent side effects for the next few days. This is because there will be a higher dose of drug in her body. If the side effects become a problem speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
It would be safe to continue taking her medication at 1pm. The 3 hour gap would be negligible in reducing likelihood of side effects. Your daughter should continue taking her medication as she normally does.
My daughter usually takes one tablet of raltegravir (600mg) and one tablet of tenofovir (200mg) at 1pm each day. Yesterday she took them at 6pm then woke up in middle of night and, thinking she hadn’t taken them, took another dose.
Is it OK to take a double dose and should she go back to taking tablets at 1pm today or take the dose slightly later (say, 4pm) to spread it out before going back to 1pm tomorrow.