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.
Hi Nthaby, with Atenef, if you only remember the next day, it is better just to take the next pill when at the normal time. Atenef is not a good drug to take during the daytime because most people get very disorientating side effects. If you normal take your meds every day, then missing one day completely is okay so long as this only happens occasionally.
i forgot to take my Anetef at home to work. will it be ok if i drink my missed dose at 8 a.m when i get home and then take them at 20:00 as i always take them at that time everyday.
Hi Zah
It is good that you are now on treatment again. Your CD4 count should steadily increase now. Also, the time off treatment will not have given you drug resistance. Resistance only develops when people are on treatment, often because adherence is not so good.
The original question above explained that being late by 15-30 minutes is fine – even an hour either side will be oay.
Pls see the answer at this link for more information.
http://i-base.info/qa/11864
Hi, in 2012 I found out I was HIV and pregnant and started taking treatment at 4 months, but when I stopped breastfeeding 2 months after giving birth I also stopped taking the treatment. I developed shingles that year and got treated immediately. I never went back on treatment. I have been fairly healthy all these years although I was not aware of my CD4 count but I never got sick. In July this year I decided to check my CD4 count and it was 294 (I had the flu at that time) so I decided to go back on treatment. I just want to know if there are any chances that my CD4 count will increase or will I be resistant to the treatment as I have defaulted for so long? Lately I get the flu too often. I mostly take my treatment on time, sometimes it’s 15 min before/after the normal time.
Hi Kenneth
15 mines will be fine – even up to an hour will be okay.
Pls see the answer at this link for more information.
http://i-base.info/qa/11864
Is it important to take my med in same time,if i be late for more than 15mins,what will happen to me?
Hi Jan – missing one dose by an hour or two is fine with this combination. Even missing a day would be okay once your viral load has been undetectable for more than six months. It s great you are so adherent, which is still best, but this info might help you be a little more relaxed about actual timing.
hi, i am taking efavirenz-tenofovir-lamivudine for more than one year now. i have never missed a dose or have never taken my meds really really late like more than an hour after the exact time i need to take my meds. but recently i take my medications 20mins to 1 hour late, this happens once or twice a week.like last night i took my medication 50mins late and 4 nights ago i took it 25 mins late. is this okay? i am just worried.
very nice site and your answers are clear, keep up with the good work you are doing..
I don’t understand your comment. Men and women can both use the same HIV meds.