Question
Is it ok if I take my meds 15 or 30 mins late?
10 October 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics.
Do you have to take your arvs at exactly the same time each day? Will for example 30 mins (or even an hour) each way have any impact whatsoever on the suppression of the virus or cause resistance? I am worried as even though I take them every day some days it is 15 or 30 mins later or earlier than the previous day.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
It is sometimes difficult to take your meds at the exact same time everyday.
Even when starting, there is a window of about an hour either side of your target time when it is still fine to take them.
For example, if you want to take your meds every night at 10 pm, then any time between 9pm and 11pm will be fine.
Everyone has a few times when we forget our meds though.
The less this happens the better. But if it does happen once in a while then there is nothing to worry about. If you forget in the future, take them as soon as you remember. However, if this is already close to the next dose DO NOT take a double dose.
Once you get an undetectable viral load, especially if it has been undetectable for several years, you have more flexibility. This partly depends on which drugs you are using.
Some once daily drugs (including tenofovir DF, emtricitabine and efavirinz) have long half-lives. This means drug levels stay in your body for long enough to cover being several hours late or even missing a dose completely.
Several studies are looking at whether reduced dosing might be safe – for example by only taking ART for four days a week. We need bigger studies before we know if this is safe though.
Note: this question was updated in October 2016 from and original answer in April 2011.
There is a arv for man n women
When you start HIV treatment both your CD4 count and viral load are important. Once your viral load gets to undetectable (less than 50) your CD4 count increases and it becomes less important than your viral load.
Eating healthy and going to the gym will keep you fit and that can help as your CD4 count recovers. But it’s important to talk to your doctor about using USN supplements to grow muscles. Some USN anabolic brands can contain meds that interact with your HIV meds. This can mean you’re getting too much or too little of some HIV meds.
Many people get mild side effects in the first days and weeks of HIV treatment (ART). Feeling dizzy can be a side effect of efavirenz. This is a drug that’s included in Tribuss or Atripla. You can talk to your doctor about this, especially if the dizziness continues and you have disturbed sleep too.
You can find out more about side effects of efavirenz here:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561#more-1561
I just found out that I’m HIV positive and I’m on treatment. What are the important things here, the viral load or my cd4 count? Because I eat healthy, I go to the gym and use USN supplements to grow muscles. But here is the case. I take this pill around 10 pm before sleep, I feel dizzy and it’s my first week is it normal?
Hi Paul
The answer really depends on which combination you use.
If it is efavirenz+FTC+tenofovir then being a few hours late is probably going to be fine.
Other combinations might not have such a big window period though.
It alos depends on whether your viral load is already undetectable.
If it is not undetectable, then it is important to try to get back to the exact time every day.
Please talk to your doctor about this too :)
I do always take my drugs around 8 pm and some times I knock of late I drink them around 11pm sometimes 01:00.am really worried is it a problem
Hi – a few hours on one occasion will be fine.
Nearly everyone will miss a dose at one time.
I forget to take my medication at about 21:00 because I fall asleep and when I wake up its 01:11 than I decided to drink them so what is going to happen because I’m worried.
Hi,
It is not really possible to take meds at exactly the same time every day. The difference between 8:16 and 8:26 will not affect your treatment.
Usually between half and hour and hour either side of the time is ok. So if you decide the take them at 8pm anytime between 7pm and 9pm is OK.
The answer to the question above has more information.
Every time I take my ARVs after 8pm mostly at 8:16 to 8:26 is this ok?
i forgot my late dose yesterday