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 Joe,
People who are HIV positive can eat and drink a regular diet. However, some vitamin supplements can interact with some HIV meds.
Please tell your doctor about any herbs and supplements you want to take.
HIV patients can drink soya milk?
Hi Eric,
Even if our HIV meds (ARVs) reduce levels of HIV in the blood to undetectable, we will still have to take them.
That’s because of sleeping immune cells that contain inactive HIV. This group of infected cells is called the latent (or sleeping) reservoir.
But if we stop taking ARVs these cells can wake up and make more copies of HIV. That means there will be viral rebound. HIV can then start to damage the immune system again.
However, researchers are trying to find a cure for HIV which can target the latent reservoir. Here’s the cure puzzle from ART in pictures that shows areas of research for this.
Can one stop taking the drugs after when the virus has been reduced to the minimum.
Hi Precious,
Yes it’s ok to put your meds in a different container.
Is it ok to put my meds in another container for secret reasons?
Hi David,
Some meds need to be taken with food. But other meds can be taken at anytime. However, efavirenz is usually taken at bedtime on an empty stomach to reduce side effects.
If your meds don’t fit in with your schedule, you can ask the doctor about switching to meds that are easier to take.
Hi.. my question is , normaly i took my Med at 9pm … if say today i have dinner .. can i have my Med at 6pm.. ofcause i stop eating at 330pm. then at 6 i take my Med .. untill at 830 my dinner stop .. will it be find ? and the next day i have my Med at 6pm or can i go back to my normal.timing?
Hi Jayjay,
Everyone misses a dose, or is occasionally late taking it. So long as this doesn’t happen a lot it’s fine.
Everyone has a few times when we forget our meds though.
I take my medication every 12mn but I took it once at 2:45am, it was 2hrs and 45mins late, is it okay?
Thank you!