Question
What happens if I miss a week of ARVs?
3 December 2021. Related: Adherence, All topics, CD4 and viral load.
I have been on treatment for the last 8 months. I stopped my medication for a week and just did a viral load test, it says I have a viral load of 700000. I don’t understand.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Do you mind if I asked why you missed a week? Adherence to a daily medication can be difficult and you might find a better way of managing it if you speak with a doctor.
For ARVs to be effective they need to be taken daily at the same time. This is because a constant level of the medication is required to be in your body to keep HIV suppressed. Missing a week of ARVs would allow the level of medication in your body to drop below a required amount. If it drops this low it will stop working and HIV will be able to replicate and increase its viral load. Here you can find out why taking ARV daily is important.
Missing a week means there is a chance HIV has gained resistance to your current medication. Taking ARVs until you are undetectable does not mean you can stop with taking them. ARV therapy will be required long-term to prevent the virus replicating. You may need to speak to your doctor about better ways to adhere to medication or if there is a more suitable combination.
If you have another question please get in touch,
Josh.
Hi ther I am a South African male 49 and am on ARV treatment for over 3 years now. I unfortunately missed 9 days of my meds and am back on now but after a month I am having a allergic reaction problem on my ski with lumps in patches which is very itchy and it goes and comes back in different spots on my back and tights. I did see a doctor and was given an inje ts for this and it was gone and after a couple of days it’s back. I can not get hold of my doctor that treats me for hiv yet. What should I do in this case
Hi Tasha, thanks. I don’t know which country you are in, but please contact your HIV clinic or hospital asap. The hospital should still be open over the holidays because people alway need access for emergency care. You may be able to get your meds from a different pharmacy.
In most countries, the same HIV meds are used as PEP for prevention (ie if a condom breaks). PEP needs to be given within 48 hours so there must be ways to get this over the holidays.
If you still cannot get your meds, this is not good, but a short break will liekly be okay, just that it is not recommended.
If you still have a few days of meds, you could take a pill every other day, but only for these few days.
Do you have any friends on the same meds who could lend you a few doses?
Hi, I was soon diagnosed and my viral load is undetectable,but what I’m worried about is that my arvs are finished and where I take my ARVs it’s closed and they will be opening on 3rd of January ,Pliz help what must I do?
Hi Sharon, please do not worry about this. Modern HIV combinations are strong enough to cover you if you occasionally miss your meds. If your viral load is generally undetectable your partner will not be at risk.
Hiii I missed 4 days of arvs in two months period and I jus had sex with my negative boyfriend is he at a risk of having contracted am so worried
In Zimbabwe, one can send a family member for a resupply. In communities where they are open about their HIV status, they have support groups. They form what is called Community ART Refiil Groups, (CARGS). If the clinic is far, they pool resources, give their cards to one person who then takes all the cards for resupply. CARGS mean no congestion at health facilities, so if one is not ill, 3 to 6 months supply is given, stocks determine amount given from each centre. CARGS were piloted in 2013 by Batanai HIV/Aids Support Organisation, (BHASO), in Gutu District, Masvingo, Zimbabwe with support from MSF. If one is not comfortable with CARGS, if more than one person is HIV positive in a family, they form a FARG. If its only one person, another family member can be sent to collect.
Hi Lunga, symptoms of HIV would not happen this soon after stopping treatment. You do not need to worry about this cough. What treatment do you take?
As it will have been 8 days, will you be able to sort out a viral load test in a few weeks? This will let you know if your treatment is still working. On Monday are you looking to get treatment from where you normally do?
I miss taking my ARV’s for six days reason being I’ve been to the clinic telling them I’ve missed doses because of work I work 12 hours, I start @06:30 to 18:30, they told me they can’t give me pills because they don’t just give them out. I went to a Public hospital to get help, they couldn’t help me. Now I hve this cough that is troubling me for 3 days now. Should I be worried, I’ll only have a chance on Monday to get my dose,another 2 days ♀️
Hi Lesego, has your husband restarted his medication? and do you know what his viral load was before he missed his medication? If he was undetectable, 6 days is not likely long enough for his viral load to rebound to levels that risk transmission. This is why this exposure would be considered low risk – if this was an exposure at all. Is there a reason your husband missed his medication?
Hi, my husband missed his ART for 6 days and we had unprotected sex. Should I be worried?