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.
What harm can it cause to my unborn baby 23 weeks pregnant when taken 22 atroiza fdc arv at once but went to clinic gave me injection, amoxicillin trihydrate 500 mg, ferovite iron &folic acid supplement to take 3 times a day , so I was vomiting and diarrhea but this stopped after I came back from the clinic, what harm could I have caused myunborn baby of 23 weeks?
Hi Dimakatso
I am sorry that you are having a rough time. Please look at this link which answers your question in more detail.
I am feeling suicidal and want to end it all…
http://i-base.info/qa/11906
You can also emil me personally if it would help to talk offline. I will be checking email through the day.
simon.collins@i-base.org.uk
i want to commit suicide with arvs tired of living
Hi Mpho. I am really sorry that you felt this way – and I am happy that you woke up this morning. Overdose with HIV drugs is unlikely to have this effect. Please call your doctor or speak to a pharmacist about the details of how many drugs you took. IT would be good to talk to someone about the reasons that you are unhappy. If you meds include a drug called efavirenz, then the meds could be adding to your feelings of suicide, as this is a side effect. Your doctor should change you to a different drug if you explain this and you might find that with new meds you also feel less anxtious or depressed.
Hi, last night I tried commitint suicide with my ARVs and woke up with loss tummy, what are the site effects of overdose?
Hi Lee,
Congratulations on having a healthy 8 months old baby. Great news!
There are many different questions on HIV transmission and testing. And most of them have been answered here:
http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi, i was diagnosed with hiv last year june which came as a shock to me while i was 3 months pregnant.the question i have is that i fell pregnant in march and i knew my status and was negative. i always get tested coz i was a regular blood donor. after i tested positive i asked my bf to go and get tested and he was negative twice and i have never cheated on him, so i am surprised. im just glad i took medication coz i have healthy 8months old baby now. i jst cant figure out how. can any1 pls explain this to me??
A month of ARVs is often used by HIV negative people to prevent infection. This is called Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Please search the i-Base website for more information.
If maybe a person took a month’s supply of ARVs, what would be the effects
Hi Britania, please talk to a doctor or contact a clinic as soon as possible if you are feeling this way. Taking ARVs will not cause a miscarriage. Is there anyone else you can talk to about how you feel?