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 Miss Q.
Working shifts can be a problem. However, its important to take your meds at roughly the same time every day.
How long have you been taking your meds? Have you actaully had any side effects? If yes, what?
I work shifts and can only take the arvs in diff times every week because my shifts are changing every week and I only want to take them b4 I go to bed to avoid side effects.
Hi Esther,
WHO guidelines are that anyone who is HIV+ should be on ARVs. This is even for people who have a high CD4 count. These guidelines are supported by evidence from the START study. Please see:
http://i-base.info/start-study/
I’m 900 cd4count and my doctor had started giving me arvs, why?
Hi Roselina,
I’m not able to tell you if there is any drug interaction without knowing what you are taking. If you’re taking traditional meds for your HIV, these will not work. It is only ARVs that will help you manage your HIV.
AM HIV POSETIVE AND IM ON MY ARVS AND IAM USING TRADITIONAL MEDS THIS MEDS WONT AFFECT MY ARVS?
Hi Thabo – thanks – you are right and great that you have found some of the positive side to living with HIV – and there definitely are some. Stress at work is tough. In some countries your union might be able to help. Or if other colleagues experience the same bullying you could perhaps take this togehter to a higher management level. Good working conditions should be free of bullying but I know this ideal is often difficult in practice.
Hi Simon. I dont have a problem with being positive it is actually an advantage as it makes me look after myself and care myself love myself more and actively aim to live long in what I do daily. My only problem is my sarcastic boss who always says bad things about how I dress and other things I do and he practises favoritism he keeps me stressed up daily and i am afraid im not going to be made ill by HIV but by him because HIV doesnt do well in stressed people. This is my biggest fear at the moment i dont know what the virus does whenever im stressed i stress daily and ive started to hate this guy
Hi Dav, please ask your doctor about this. The answer depends on your CD4 count as this relates to how important the Septrin is.
Is skipping septrin Ok? Most atimes, I don’t take it but i do take my arvs