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.
Hy a friend of mine took 8 arv pills and I don’t know what to do
Hi Lydia, ARVs and PrEP use the same drugs. Mixing them will not improve how well they work. Taking them together will double the amount of the same drug you have in your body and this is not recommended.
Adhering to ARVs will help make your viral load undetectable. Unfortunately there is no treatment that will mean you test negative on an HIV test. After testing positive treatment will not stop the test result.
Will mixing Arv and Prep hide HIV in my blood? It’s urgent and I am not ready to expose my status!
Hi Candice, while you are feeling like this please go to the emergency department.
Please follow this link for numbers to contact: https://i-base.info/qa/19680
I am planning on drinking all my arvs tired of this medication
Hi Anonymous, yes this is risky and is not advised. This can lead to long term problems with your health, primarily your kidney and liver.
Is taking 10 ARV at once risky
Hi Luyanda, please go to the emergency department and seek attention from a doctor. As with any pill, taking half of the tablets they have can lead to serious problems.
If a person take like almost half of the ARVs pills is that person in a serious risk or?? What should we do ??
Hi Rofhiwa, taking 5 ARVs is not recommended. You would experience heavier side effects than normal and there is the potential for long term damage to your liver/kidneys. It would likely mean you would go to the hopsital.
Is there a reason you are asking this question?