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 Beyan,
It’s OK to take your meds a few hours either side of your normal time, this won’t be an issue. So just choose a time that works well for you. As to where you keep your medication, this is up to you.
Hi how do I take my meds when I have to be at a conference that requires me to be active during the hour of my medication intake and after. When is it best to take them or what type on container can I get to carry them?
Hi Joseph,
When someone starts medication their viral load should become undetectable within 1-3 months of starting treatment. However in some instances it can take a little longer. To know for sure if your viral load has become undetectable you’ll need to have a test. In the 6 months that you’ve been on treatment your CD4 should also have gone up.
I was very sick in November 2018 with stomach ulcers and got diagnosed with hiv same time. Was in hospital 10 days started with hiv treatment a week after I came out of hospital my cd4 count was 37. I’ve been on treatment ever since it is 6 months later now. Di you think my viral load will be undetectable now?
Hi Maria,
If your viral load is undetectable, which ideally it should be because you’ve been on meds for 5 months, there won’t be a risk. Please see here: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/ Do you know what your viral load is?
Hi, I just met a guy who is hiv negative I am too ashamed to disclose my status to him even my family do not know. We used condoms since n last week the condom bursts and he pulled it out right away. Can he become positive? Am very worried about him.
I was diagnosed with hiv on January 2019 n started my ART on February my cd4 is 1322
And taking atroiza and I have never missed a dose.
Hi Gory,
This all depends on what it is that you’re taking. What meds are you on?
Can u take your drugs anytime, or it must be a specific time.
Hi Ramadhan,
It’s good that you started HIV treatment (ART) 2 months ago. But was that your CD4 count when you started. Or is it a new result.
It’s a low CD4 count. And what does your doctor say? Are you also taking antibiotics for other infections while it’s 65?
But the important result is your viral load. Once you start ART your viral load should come down quickly. Looking at your viral load is the way to see if the meds are working well.
Once your viral load is undetectable your CD4 count can recover.
Please can you ask the doctor for your viral load result? Please let us know. You can check with the doctor if you need to take antibiotics too.
And here’s an Introduction to ART for lots more info.
I started taking abacavir/lamividine and efavirenz 2 month ago and my CD4 count is 65, it’s good or bad?