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…. My friend took an overdose of whole bottle of Arvs and they gave her milk and she vomiting all the medication and now she’s OK so I want to know if it won’t do any harm to her body?
Hi Yolanda,
Please can I ask why you’ve asked this question? But the short answer is, you might not die instantly.
If someone takes a whole bottle of ARVs they need to see the doctor urgently. That’s because an overdose of ARVs can increase toxicities of these meds. This can cause damage to the body’s vital organs, such as the kidneys.
Please let us know more.
Am l going to die instantly if l take the whole bottle of pills
Hi Koko,
Taking a double dose by accident on rare occasions shouldn’t cause serious harm. For tips on taking your HIV meds please see this link:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence-tips
I tooked double those by mistake
Hi Mpho,
I’m sorry to hear this news. Was it a double dose or was it more than that?
Please ask her to contact the doctor as soon as possible. This is so he or she can go through the details of what she took and decide on what medical care is best.
If she lives in South Africa she can contact the Treatment Action Campaign at this contact link. They can give local support.
My friend took an overdose of ARV’S and she’s 13 weeks pregnant will she have a miscarriage
Hi Blondie,
If your viral load is increasing and you’re on medication, this means that the medication that you’re taking isn’t working. You’re going to need to talk to your doctor about as your HIV won’t be controlled. Please see here: http://i-base.info/guides/changing
I have severe diarhea, as a result my viral load is so high I’ve been taking arv for a year now and I feel because of the chronic diarhea it doesn’t hold or stay longer in the stomuch
Hi Peendile,
I’m so sorry to hear this. Did you take a double dose by accident? Or did you take more than that?
Please contact your doctor as soon as possible. This is so he or she can go through the details of what you took and decide on appropriate medical care.
If you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign at this contact link. They can give local support.