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 took a double dose of TLD PEP for 9 consecutive days. What bad things happened to my body?
Hi Phumlani – 3 pills will not be a risk.
3 pills
Hi Gwyneth, pls dont worry about this. It will not cause any problems. This is a good reason to use a pill box though, so you can see if you have taken yourr meds or not.
Hi there,,,,I took one tablet and few minutes later I took another forgetting that I already had my pill.. should I be worried I am on DLT???
Hi Lihle, please talk to a doctor straight away and go to the hospital if you took a whole bottle of pills. A doctor needs to know about this urgently. Please also ask for help about the reasons why you did this.
I took a bottle of my sister ‘s prep pills
Hi Marina, please let a doctor or the clinic know about this.
My brother took 2 bottles of ARV pills
Hello Paul and thanks for the comment.
Please note: HIV i-base can only provide information for ARVs.
We cannot offer medication advice, because we are not doctors.
You have double dosed on an allergy tablet.
You will likely be very drowsy but please speak to your doctor if you are worried.