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.
I am undetectible but still taking my ARV. (Lopinavir+ritonavir and lamivudine/zidovudine) i Always take my meds 7am and 7pm. But most of the time i took it late for at least 1-2 hours. Is the my ARV still effective?
Hi Kelebogile,
What HIV meds is your husband taking?
However, diarrhoea is no longer a common side effect with most HIV drugs. If he’s not on HIV treatment (ART) that could be the cause of diarrhoea.
Please have a look at this guide to HIV and diarrhoea. This guide includes, tips on how to describe it to the doctor, finding the cause, treatment and diet.
Hi my husband is positive and he always having a running stomach what could be the problem.
Hi Victor,
Is your question about when to start PEP? If so, the question is answered in full here.
What if aperson take the medication before 72 hours but after 48 hours. Will that medication work perfectly?
Hi Arthur,
It’s a good idea to talk to the doctor about these symptoms. What meds are in your PEP? It could be a serious reaction to them. But your doctor should check you out when you have symptoms like these.
I’m on pep for 28days now 14th day but I have developed general weakness , weight loss and I feel wounds on my throat, stencils are disturbing me, headache , advise should I stop it
Hi Jon,
Sorry your comment is not clear. All the questions have answers. However, some people comment, but they ask a different question to the question they comment on. We answer these and also redirect to other Q&As.
Why are there questions with no answers and answers with no questions?? Strange site..
Hi Melanie,
What meds are you taking? Some meds need to be taken with food, and others, like Atrioza, are best on an empty stomach at bedtime. But taking meds on an empty stomach is meant to reduce side effects like disturbed sleep. So you could take your meds between food. That might work.
But it’s a good idea to talk to the doctor about these symptoms. There might be treatment to help stop the burning.