Question
I missed my meds for 4 days, will I be OK?
7 May 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I’m traveling for work and forgot my meds…Meaning I will miss 4 doses of Biktarvy
My viral load has been undetectable for nearly 10 years now and I am otherwise in very good health… so how dangerous is missing 4 doses?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Meds needs to be taken every day to make sure that there are always good drug levels in your body, Getting the timing right means you still have good levels when you come to taje the next dose. This is for week day and weekends, every day in the year.
Luckily though, as drugs have become better, they also provide cover if you are sometimes late.
Though missing four days is not good, you should be okay. This is because after ten years, levels of HIV will be very very low. If you do this often though, you might develop drug resistance.
Your partners will also be okay from this time. It usually takes a couple of weeks for a viral load to rebound. As soon as you get home, make sure that you take your meds. If possible you may want to have your viral load checked.
Hi Macus, PEP can be used by anyone who is HIV negative. Please see this link for more info that answer your other Qs.
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi
I wish to know that who should use prep, males or female. And when to use prep . What are the reasons and benefits for prep.
Hi Macus, Is your viral load undetectable? If yes, then missing one dose a week is unlikely to cause any problem. The more doses you miss, the more difficult it is to know this though. Several studies reported that missing two doses a week might also be okay. If this just happens by accident, then using a pill box makes it easier to not miss doses.
Hi
I have been on ARVs for more than 10 years, my problem is that weekly I miss i happen to miss my dose. One to three days, and I remember to sat again. Will I transmit or get sick