Question
Using expired ARVs
6 February 2022. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics.
Lately I am using ARV Atripla that will expire in February 2022. I have to take this ARV until 14 March. Is it safe to use these during February and the two first weeks of march? Cause I have read that ARV have a short lifetime (18- 24 month).
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Are you able to get any ARVs to replace the ones that will expire? The biggest risk of taking expired ARVs is that it is no longer guaranteed that they will work as well as they usually do. A month after expiration is not likely to be a problem but it is important to be aware of this.
As a result of the potentially reduced efficacy there is a slight risk of HIV drug resistance. However this is a very small risk. Taking expired ARVs will be of more benefit than of taking none.
Josh.
Hi Wright, please don’t worry about this. So long as they have been stored okay, your meds stay active for a long time after the use-by date. Solid tablets are likely to be okay for at least the next 6-12 months.
Can I still take my ARV’s if they expired in that month. For example, it’s April and they expire in April is it safe to still take them but I also have some that’s going to expire in June.