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.
Overdose 50 pills
Hello Noreen, how are you feeling?
I am just checking in to make sure you are still ok
Please contact us at questions@i-base.org.uk if you would like to discuss this further
Or please discuss with your doctor the reasons that make you feel so unwell
Tok 7 pills what will happen
Hello Rookie, how is your friend feeling now?
I am just checking in to make sure you are still ok
Please contact us at questions@i-base.org.uk if you would like to discuss this further
My best friend took 38 atone time
Hello Immanuel, how are you feeling?
I am just checking in to make sure you are still ok
Please contact us at questions@i-base.org.uk if you would like to discuss this further
Or please discuss with your doctor the reasons that make you feel so unwell
Would I die if I take a whole months supply?
Hello Ben and thanks for getting in touch.
Chances are you will not have any side effects from the 3 tablets, however you might develop a headache.
If you feel unwell please escalate to your local A&E or your doctor for advice.
Is there some reason you took these extra tablets or was it an accident?
Here you can find tips to help you get only the required doses of your medication:
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/adherence-tips
I accidentally took 3 arv pills at a time what’s likely to happen?
Hi Kelvin, please contact your doctor to explain what happens. They might want to run monitoring tests to check that your liver and kidney function are okay after having PEP drugs at high levels for so long.