Question
I missed a dose of PEP.
2 January 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Hi. I am taking PEP and I forgot to take my pill at the exact time I always take it. I remembered in 8 hrs and took the pill. Can I continue to take my pill the exact time I always take it? And does this reduce my chances of not getting HIV? Please help.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes you can continue to take PEP at the usual time you do.
Although it is better to not miss any meds, if you do forget once or twice, this is unlikely to make much difference. Especially if these are doses towards the end of the month.
While it is not advised, missing a dose by a few hours is unlikely to cause a problem. PEP remains in the body for more than 24 hours. As you remembered tot take PEP, the levels within your body would have stayed at a biologically significant level.
If you have another question please ask,
Josh.
Hi Please HELP!!
As a safety precaution I started PEP meds and 4 days into it partner A provided me with a negative HIV results but I still continued with the meds and and it’s now day 15 … On day 16 partner B confirms HIV positive after intercourse… What do I do, I’m clueless
Hi John, yes you should restart. Missing 2 days of treatment is unlikely to cause any problems.
What is your viral load? and how long have you been on treatment?
If you had a suppressed viral load, it can take a week or more before viral load rebounds. In this case missing treatment for 2 days is not going to be long enough for your viral load to increase again.
Hi I went on a 2 day trip and missed two doses about 2 weeks in should I restart ?
Hi Willo, no you do not need to worry. The most importnat time to adhere to PEP is the first 3 weeks. The final weeks has a lower evidence base for its recommendation. It is more a suggestion for completion of the course and adherence rather than having clinical benefit.
Missing dose 28 is not going to change if your course of PEP has been effective or not.
PEP: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I forgot to take my last tablet of pep it’s now a week do I have to worry
Hi Allan, continue taking your PEP at 8pm. That will mean taking 2 doses today which is safe to do.
Hey, Am Allan my usual time for taking pep was at 8:00pm but I forgot and remember today’s morning at 5:00am , should I continue with my normal taking at 8:00pm or I mantain 5:00pm advise please
Hi Violet, you should continue as normal. Taking this additional dose is not going to change how PEP works.
Hi I started taking Pep yesterday and I forgot that I was supposed to take 1 pill but I took two pills am I supposed not to drink ot today or I should continue?
Hi Tete, how long after your exposure did you start PEP?
Please see here for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq