Question
Do I need to take my meds again as I threw up?
6 July 2023. Related: Adherence, All topics.
How long does it take for ART medication to digest? I took my medication at 9:00pm last night and was sick around between 10:30-11:00pm.
Do I need to take meds again?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing now?
As you vomited less than 2 hours from taking your medication it would be advised to take them again.
It should be 30 minutes from when you last vomited.
If you vomit more than 2 hours after taking your treatment, this will be enough time for the medication to be absorbed and you wouldn’t need to take another dose.
Josh.
Hello. I took arv and puked after 20 minutes. I saw no signs of pills so I did not take a second dose. Was it okay? I’m on my third month of treatment. And is it okay if I missed a day just in case it I was not careful enough to check the pill. I appreciate your help.
Hi Ashley, as you have thrown up within 2 hours of taking treatment it is advised to take a second dose. Throwing up within 2 hours means all the medication will not have been absorbed.
It would be expected that you cannot see it as the stomach acid will have broken the tablet down, but 45 minutes is not long enough for it all to be absorbed. It is safe and recommended to take an additional dose to compensate for the missed medication from throwing up.
I use Acriptega, and threw up while brushing my teeth 45 minutes after taking them. I don’t recall seeing it either. Do I need to take them again?
Hi Sonam, this depends on which meds you are taking. If you can see the pills and that they haven’t yet been broken down, then it is good to take them again. If you can’t see them, they have probably been at least partially absorbed and it is okay to wait until your regular tie tomorrow.
If you have aleady been on meds for a wekk or two, then missing one dose will not be a problem.
If you only just started meds a day or two ago, this might be a reason to try taking them again now. Wait a little while (maybe 15-30 minutes) until you can start afresh with a new glass of water.
I threw after 30 minutes after taking ms step 2. So do i need to take pills back
Hi Beata, yes you do. If you vomit within 2 hours of taking your medication you need to take them again.
30 minutes is not long enough for your body to have absorbed your medication which is why a second dose would be needed.
I took my medication, then 30 minutes later I puked, do I need to take them again
Hi Thabisa, no you do not need to retake your medication? Were you sick at all or were you only feeling sick?
After 2 hours your ARVs will have been absorbed. Even if you are sick after 2 hours, your treatment will already be working and you will not need to take an additional dose.
I took my medication at 18:30 and I felt sick at 2045 do I still need to retake my pills ?
Thankyou very much for the advice