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.
My kid has been on a 3months prophylaxis (nevirapine and zidovdine. 3 months and 6weeks respectively.
Now he is taking septrine. What is the use of septrine.
Hi Debs, what does your doctor say about this? If you started treatment with a very low CD4 count, this might be neuroapthy related to HIV (rather than the meds).
Also, please can you tell me again which drugs you take?
If you are taking both Odimune and efavirenz then please talk to your doctor because efavirenz is already included in Odimune.
If you are taking both this might mean you are taking a double dose of efavirenz – and this might be causing neuropathy (feet pain/numbness).
This link has more information about peripheral neuropathy, in case this is the cause.
http://i-base.info/guides/side/peripheral-neuropathy
I’m using odimoni and eferezines and my feet are always cramped and I don’t feel nothing on my feet I can’t we’re heels I must wear tight shoes so that I can be able to walk I started the treatment in 2015.
Hi Charles, it is difficult to comment without knowing why your partner stopped. All he can really do is to restart, but knowing the reason would mean you could try to prevent this happening again.
Hi
My partner did not drink his ARV’s for 7 days now please advise me.
Hi JP, it is probably better to spread them out on alternate days. The is especially if you at using a single pill that includes efavirenz (ie with tenofovir and emtricitabine).
If i’m short 3 pills, is it better to skip 3 days straight or take the remaining pills every other day?
Hi Lorenzo, if your meds include a drug called efavirenz, it is important to take this before you go to bed. It is okay to be flexible with the time if sometimes this is a bit earlier or later than your normal time.
Hello i have a very important question regarding ARV medication at night is it ok to take them like 12 am and 1 am as one of my friend said so and he is also HIV positive?
thanks in advanced
Hi Aaron,
You’ll be fine.You won’t develop resistance by being late with your meds. It is however important to try and take your meds at roughly the same time every day when you first begin meds.