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.
I took 6 arv tablets how danger am i
Hi Daniel, I am sorry but please contact your doctor, pharmacist or local hospital. The result will depend on which drugs you are talking about and how many you took. One of two more will generally be okay, but a doctor should know if you took many more. Did this happen by accident or was it on purpose?
What can be the solution if one takes more arvs
Hi Agnes, can I ask why you did this? It would be good to also talk to your doctor about this. It sounds like you were lucky and this didn’t do you any harm, but taking this many meds is not good.
I took 10 pills once
Hi Mpume, please dont worry. Taking an extra dose by accident with be okay. I use a pill box so I can see if I have already taken my meds or not.
I took 2 ARVs by mistake and I’m 8months pregnant.I would like to how danger I am.
Hi Mbeli, please dont worry. Taking an extra dose by accident with be okay. I have used a pill box so I can see if I have already taken my meds or not. This is worked for me for over 20 years :)
Hlw yesterday I over dosing a 2 pills of arvs what problem i will face it
Hi Michael, what ARVs are you taking? Different types will have different recommendations. In general it is okay to take them at any time, but some are to be in the morning/evening to avoid side effects.