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,I confused whether I HV taken the acriptega today,right now.
Advice.
Are the risks of taking a double dose too high or I go ahead n take?
Hi Nhlengethwa, have you experienced any problems in the last few weeks? If you feel fine and haven’t noticed any problems you can just continue by taking one of the pills.
I have just started the treatment and I didn’t know that Acriptega and Telatri is one and the same thing, have been taking both for close to 3 weeks. Please help
Hi Olouch, did you take PrEP and your partners ARVs? PrEP and ARVs largely use the same drugs. It is unlikely that you are going to experience anything differently.
Do you know your partners viral load? If it is below 200 there is no need to be on PrEP. HIV cannot be transmitted via sex when on treatment with a suppressed viral load. This is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hey I took Prep and also mistakenly took my partners ARV what could be the effect
Hi Anaye, please go to the emergency department. You need to be seen by a doctor. Please see here for any more information you require: https://i-base.info/qa/19680
Hello today i took 60 ArVs at a time trying to commit suicide around 6pm but I’ve been vomiting only…what could happen to me??
Hi Angeline, yes you can take another one at 20:00. If I am right this means you would only be taking the two doses in a single day? This is okay to do and will help continue the normal time of taking treatment.
I am taking ARV’s at 20:00 everyday but I just made a mistake a took another one at 8:00 now, what will happen to me, should I take another one at 20:00 like I do everyday.
Hi Mr X, this is not going to be a problem. Missing an occasional dose is not going to risk your treatment not working.