Question
What are the risks of taking an over-dose of ARVs?
4 January 2011. Related: Adherence, All topics, Drug interactions, Side effects, Support.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Taking one or two extra doses of ARVs it not likely to be a problem. But is could increase side-effects from the drugs for a couple of days.
To give you a more accurate answer please let me know how much of an overdose you are talking about. For example, is it just forgetting someone had already taken the drugs and taking them again once? Or are you talking about someone say taking a whole months supply at once?
Taking a double dose by accident on rare occasions shouldn’t cause serious harm, however, a deliberate overdose of a lot of ARVs could increase the toxicities to such an extent that it damages the body’s vital organs.
Hi Victor, have you noticed any side effects?
PEP is a short course of treatment. Even with a double dose each day, it is unlikely to have any long term impact on your health.
After stopping treatment, any side effect occurring should have disappeared. How are you feeling now?
PEP will have still been effective. For more information about PEP please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq