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 Daniel,
What ARVs are you taking? Not sleeping well and having nightmares can be a side effect of Atripla. See here for other names for Atripla. But taking it before bedtime, and on an empty stomach (or not with a high fat meal) can help reduce side effects. A high fat meal increases drug levels of efavirenz by 60%. This increases the likelihood of side effects. If side effects continue, you can ask your doctor about alternative treatment to switch to.
Hi i just started Arv and i take it at 9pm but once i take it i dont sleep, if i sleep i can have nightmares. During the day im not feeling normal sometime i feel like i want to vomit. Is it normal? Thanx for your help
Hi Joyce.
What is the other medication that you’re taking?
hi i am 42 years and have been taking ARVS for 2 years now my viral load is 47 my problem is if i take other medication before i take my arv later at night i get pains in my stotach is it feels like burning tiredness and so painful for about 30 minutes.Any idea whats the cause?
Hi Bon,
Its fine to just start taking them at 7pm. It won’t have any effect on your health.
I’m on arv for almost a year now and undetectable taking stribiild. I have been taking them everyday for 12pm and now my work schedule has changed and won’t be able to take it anymore. I would like to take it at night now. How would I go about at changing my mediciaiton at 7pm now? Should I just start taking it at 7pm now?
Hi Dee,
Tribuss, Atroiza and Atenef are all generic versions of Atripla. These tablets all contain the same 3 drugs but are made by different companies. You can see more info here. A viral load of 200 could be just a blip. A blip is when viral load goes above 50 copies for a short time and then drops back down. There is more info here. Blips are common but you can ask the clinic for another viral load test to confirm it.
hi Dee here, was on fdc for about 4 years taking between tribuss and atroiza and my viral load was undetectable until December last year, where i had viral load of 200. i think this was caused by unprotected sex with my husband whom he always get results that he has not infected by the HIV. My concern recently is that the clinic has changed me to Atenef and it is the first time i hear about this drug and worried that viral load may not decreases. please help.
Hi Jazzman,
A boil is an infection in the small dip in your skin where a hair grows from (a follicle). But if not on HIV treatment (ART) many infections can be more common, especially if your CD4 count is low. But you can talk to your doctor and find out the cause. You can ask if there is any treatment for them.
Hi does people with HIV tends to develop boils?