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 Rose,
I’m sorry to hear you are having a difficult time during your pregnancy.
But are you vomiting immediately after you had taken your ARVs or some hours later? If it’s later it’s likely that the meds would have been absorbed in your body by the time you vomited. This is because, on average, ARVs are absorbed within 2 hours of taking them.
Taking ARVs can benefit your health as well as your baby’s health.
Please can you talk to your doctor about your HIV treatment and tell them that you’ve stopped taking it. You can ask if there’s treatment to stop you vomiting during your pregnancy.
Here’s the guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
I jst found out dat i am hiv positive nd pregnant at de same tym nd dey said i shud start with arvs but am vomiting everything after taking dem nd its painfull isnt de onether way of taking drugs cos honestly speaking me and pills we not boddys even if it’s jst a normal painkiller…So I hv stoped with de treatment cos I see no point drinking dem den after vommit dem but again am worried abt my health nd my baby.s as am nw approaching four mnths
Hi Pro,
Marijuana doesn’t cause drug resistance.
Can smoking marijuana cause drug resistence, i’m taking Efavirens, Emtricitabine, Tenofovir everyday before bad time.
Hi Umar,
What PEP meds are you taking? If it’s Atripla this can be a reason why you are feeling dizzy. This is a reported side effect of efavirenz, the main drug in Atripla.
Atripla is best taken before bed and not after a high fat meal.
And you can switch to later in the day. Switch once and carry on at the same time.
good morning
i have been taking my pep medicine at 2pm after lunch, but then i feel dizzy after an hour and yet i have to complete the day, is possible to switch to 8:30pm after my supper?
thanks
Hi Zwelakhe,
Are you thinking of switching to an earlier time? If so, you could switch ARVs to 4 hours earlier and carry on at the earlier time.
But this might depend on what ARVs you are taking. If you’re taking Atripla then it’s recommended you take it just before bedtime. What meds are you taking?
If you’ve accidentally, and just once, taken them 4 hours early it will most likely be okay.
Do you have access to your viral load and CD4 results?
Is it okay to take your ARV 4 hours earlier than your normal time
Thank you Lisa
Hi Joy,
Its perfectly ok to take your meds a few hours either side of your normal time, this won’t be an issue.