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 Dorcas, in most cases yes. Missing treatment for a week is not likely to cause a problem as you have been adherent with medication previously. After a week there is some risk of viral rebound. For this reason it would be recommended to have a viral load test within a few weeks of restarting to check that your medication is still working.
I’m out of town and I’m stranded I should be getting home on the 31st of this month I have been out of it since the 23rd will I be okay I’ve never missed the dose before this
Hi Desmond, missing a single dose is not going to risk resistance. Biktarvy has a long half life. This means it remains working in the body longer than 24 hours. This long half life means you can miss one day and as long as you return to taking it as normal, there is no risk of viral rebound.
I can’t remember if I took my Biktarvy today or not. I’d rather not accidentally take a double dose, so if I didn’t actually take it today and then take it tomorrow, there’s no risk of the virus developing resistance right?
Hi Ernesto, not taking your medication for 30 days is enough time for your viral load to rebound. It will also risk resistance to your current meds. Is there a reason why you are not taking your treatment for 30 days?
If I’m undetectable and I don’t take my meds with in 30 days is that bad
Hi Erin, Biktarvy has a long half life. Missing your medication for 3/4 days is unlikely to cause your viral load to rebound. In most cases, from undetectable, rebound will take a week or more to become detectable. Though as a precaution, it is advised to have a viral load test in a few weeks to check that Biktarvy is still working.
I just ran out of Biktarvy. The nurse called it in this morning. I guess it’s going to take 3 or 4 days to get here. I just ran out yesterday. I’m undetectable right now but will I be detectable when I get it?
Hi Refilwe, do you know what your viral load is? If you were already undetectable, missing 4 days of treatment is unlikely to cause a problem. From undetectable it can take a week or more for viral load to rebound. 4 days is usually not long enough for viral load to rebound. Is there a reason your missed your medication for this time?
I use TLD, i miss my meds for 4 days…will i be okay