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 team,
Question : i recently missed my time to take my meds..should be at 10.30pm but fell asleep and woke up at 1.27am (roughly 3 hours late)..will there be any serious risk? what is the safe time gap?
Also, do i really need to take the meds two hours after eating because sometimes I’m unable to keep it two hours gap time
Hi Rift,
It’s OK to take your meds a few hours either side of your normal time, this won’t be an issue. With regards to your meds, if you’re taking Atripla or a generic version of Atripla, please see here for how it should be taken: http://i-base.info/guides/1561
Hi Gareth,
To get the correct dose you should aim to take PEP about the same time every 24 hours. The strength of the meds is worked out to give you the best results if you take it every day at about the same time.
So it shouldn’t make a difference to the outcome if you take it every 22 hours.
Hi Team,
Question:
Does taking one’s dose of PEP, every 22 hours (so 1 – 2 hours earlier each day) , instead of waiting 24 hours, have any effect on the efficacy/strength of the course? (utilizing Dulotegravir 50mg & Truvada)
Context:
During a male individual’s first ever PEP regime, having only started 65 – 70 hours after potential exposure
Hi Marshia,
Please talk to your doctor about your three month old. But are you both able to access treatment and protection for HIV?
What ARVs are you taking, and what treatment was your baby given since birth? Please let us know.
If you live in South Africa and have difficulty accessing HIV treatment, the Treatment Action campaign can be contacted here at this link. They can help with local support.
Anonymous i recently did a mouth HIV swab for my 3 month old and it shows 1 dark line and the other is shadded what does it mean and am taking my ARVs everyday
Hi MaK,
I’m sorry to hear about your partner’s recent diagnosis. But we all miss doses very occasionally. So long as it’s just once in a while, it should be fine.
It’s a good suggestion to change the time he takes the pill. However some HIV meds (ARVs), such as Atripla, are best if taken at bedtime. That’s to reduce side effects.
When you are ready you can look at Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U). Having an undetectable viral load means that HIV cannot be transmitted to your sexual partner. Please see this link to U=U.
And here’s the introduction to HIV treatment (ART). There’s a lot of info in this for your partner.
My partner find out that he is HIV positive last month, we have not make love as we are still working in knowing each other.
Last night he went out with the boys has few drinks and did not take his medication
I suggested that he change and takes the pill in the morning instead, will this a problem?
Hi Phindile,
What medication are you currently taking? Which country do you live in? I’m asking as stavudine is no longer prescribed in the UK. Depending in where you live and your treatment history there may be other options.
Hi Madam I’ve been taking my arvs since last year but my viral load is not getting low they said they will change me to another tablet am scared because stavudine they say it make big stomachis stavudine still exist