Q and A

Question

What are the risks of taking an over-dose of ARVs?

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.

361 comments

  1. Rofhiwa

    Wat will happen if ar take 5pills of arv at once

  2. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Mpho, there is no risk of your partner getting HIV. As you have a suppressed viral load below 200 it is impossible to pass on HIV via sex. This is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/

  3. Mpho

    Hi!! My viral load is on 78 and had unprotected sex with my partner? Could he be in high risk of getting the sickness

  4. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Adams, have you missed any?

  5. Adams

    I forgot If I took the drugs I had to take another,but am scared if there will be side effects

  6. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Jane, please see the information on this question: https://i-base.info/qa/14045

  7. Jane

    Hi I took double dose of ARVs by mistake as I took one and I forgot then I took one again after an hour

  8. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Asana, what is the name of the treatment you are taking? and have you had a recent viral load/CD4 test?

  9. Asana

    I just started taking the ART and I’m taking it morning and evening so will it affect me

  10. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Sam, it is safe to take a double dose. Why are you needing to take a double dose?

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