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.
Hello Favour and thanks for getting in touch.
D17 (or TLD) is a commonly used medication by millions in the world.
It has really good profile both in fighting the virus as well as in having few (if any) side effects.
You can read more about it here: https://i-base.info/qa/9869
How are you coping with your diagnosis?
Please take a look at this guide as it will help you navigate these first few months:
https://i-base.info/just-found-out/
Good afternoon am new here ,I just started taking my med,I have been leaving with HIV for two year without knowing ,so please I want to ask is D17 an antviral meds please help and how good is it for hiv
You are very welcome Andrew.
Please feel free to stay in touch.
Thank you for giving us information
Hello Alyi and thanks for getting in touch.
Please don’t worry, your tablets are ok to take, even if the bottle was open for 24 hours.
What will happen if I forget to close my bottle of tablets for about 24 hours ….is it still good to use the same tablets ..
Hello Cynthia and thanks for getting in touch.
Please don’t worry. Missing your medication for 3 or 4 days will not compromise your health or make you lose the undetectable status.
Everything will be alright.
However, if you feel this happens often you might want to consider how you take your medication, to prevent developing resistance.
Please see this guide for more information and tips:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence-tips
Hi I’m on LUVIGEN I think I missed it for 3 or 4 days I’m undetectable living with hiv for 16 years will I go back to detectable or will I be ok thank you
Hi Mercy, thanks, some meds like dolutegravir are better to take in the morning and others like efavirenz are best at night. You didn’t say which meds you are taking but the clinic can also tell you this. The acrual time though is up to you.
Hellopls can I take my medication at any time of the day?