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 VZ, please dont worry about this and please dont’ be upset. You have done amazingly well all this time. HIV meds are good enough to cover you if you are sometimes a little early ot late. After all this time you will have so little HIV that even missing for these few days will also be okay – I promise. Just restart them again when you are back home.
Hi, this is my first time in 16 years I will be missing my meds, but I went away for a short trip and somehow I have taken all my vitamins but I forgot to take the ones that are saving my life. I’m a bit in a panic mode right now, but it’s only a 4-day trip and I have never ever missed a dose before, so I am praying it’s going to be okay, although right now I am crying my eyes out.
Hello NCJ and thanks for getting in touch.
Thank you for the feedback and really happy you found the information you were looking for in the previous comments.
For clarity: no risk in missing 3 days of medication to yourself, your wellbeing or for the effectiveness of the medication.
I am very thankful for this website and how my browser, without AI, brought me to it. It’s awesome to see Hiv. + or (-) finding an open space to find info. I had a similar question regarding ‘ missing 3 days’ of my antiviral ( Tivicay). Since my viral load has been undetectable for 10 years, I found comfort in the comments shared here
Hello Nomacala and thanks for getting in touch.
Yes you can definitely change the time you take your ARVs.
The best you can do is find a time that works well for you and take them then.
Can I change the time of taking ARVs? I have been taking them at 13:00 can I change to 10:00?
Hello Nthabiseng and thanks for getting in touch.
Do you mind if I ask why have you been skipping doses?
Is it because of side effects or is there some other reason?
Taking your medication daily ensures they will keep working for many years.
We have here some more information on the importance to take them as prescribed and some tips to help you:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence-tips
Hi I have been skipping a day for weeks on taking my ARVs sometimes I skipped 3 days in a raw what problem should accur am worried