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 recently changed from Ranega to Luvigen. I could not get hold of Ranega. Will it be ok if i move back to Ranega. And how soon can i see and feel the difference.
Hi Justice, taking a single double dose is not going to risk any serious side effects. You may notice that some more common side effects are worse than normal (if you regularly experience them) but these will quickly disappear. If you notice that these side effects do not go away or you are still concerned please speak with your pharmacist or doctor.
I took 2 forgetting that I have to take one what are the dangerous side of it ..REYDIN
Hi Nobefundisi, please seek medical help. It is important that you speak with a doctor. If you are unable to contact your regular doctor please go to your local emergency department.
I overdose 15
Hi Xavery, please see here for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Being one day short with PEP is not going to change how effective PEP is.
I forgot that I took pep so I took the pill again. Is it a problem? As pep is supposed to be taken for 28 days so it will be less than 28 days as it will be 27 days because I took one pill accidentally. What can I do?
Hi Pro, thanks for writing and getting in touch – because it sounds like you might have done this for a reason and then changed your mind. Please speak to a doctor, or nurse or pharmacist because you didn’t say which meds you took. Anything more than a couple of extra doses probably means that your clinic will want to monitor you closely over the next few days.
Taking 7 pills might be enough to make you feel very ill, or it might risk damaging you liver or kidneys – which could be serious. Some medicines can cause liver or kidney failure which may or may not be fatal but which could be a very horrible things to go through.
Please also try to talk about the circumstances that led to taking 7 doses. The clinic might be able help with these issues.
If this was related to thinking about how you feel about life, helplines in every country can be a way to talk in confidence about how you feel.
In the UK, the phoneline for the Samaritans is 116 123. The US National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. Eight helplines for South Africa are linked here.
Phonelines in over 60 other countries are linked from this page
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html.
I take 7 ARV pills – am I’m I gonna die?
Hi Brian
Taking 6 tablets is not good, but you will probably be okay.
Please contact a doctor, pharmacist or hospital though so they can check you are okay.
You don’t say the names of the meds and some have a higher risk of kidney or liver damage.
You also didn’t say if this was by accident or on purpose.