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 Zak,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Testing positive can be a difficult time for all of us. But please see this link to a resource for if you’ve just found out.
As it says, even if you feel worried, frightened, upset or angry now, it will get easier. You will still be able do all the things you wanted to do before you learned that you were HIV positive.
You can choose if and when you want to tell other people. This can include your children. You’ve started HIV treatment and it’s great that you started the very same day. So you can now take things at your own pace.
Please see this Introduction to HIV treatment (called ART).
Do you have access to your CD4 count and viral load results? Please let us know. And also please tell us what HIV meds you’re taking.
I was diagnosed on the 10 of February 2020 I started treatment the very same day I am a 36 year old woman I have not disclosed my status to my children yet and I am scared
Hi George,
How are you doing now that you’ve started medication? I hope well.
When someone starts medication their viral load should become undetectable within 1-3 months of starting treatment. In some instances it can however take longer. To know for sure if you’re undetectable or not, you’ll need to have a viral load test.
Was diagnosed with hiv in 2009 but I start immediately.. I started taking them January 2020..and my CD4 285 when I started taking arv.. How long will it take for me to undetected
Hi Mpilo,
You’re HIV is under control so it’s perfectly fint to take your meds a few hours either side of your normal time.
Hi
I work in the TV industry. My job is extremely demanding and it is becoming extremely difficult to keep up with my 11pm schedule, especially because now I got a promotion which will be even more demanding.
I have been undetectable for 3 years now and wanted to know if I can take my meds at 9:30pm on Wednesday instead of 11pm because that is the one day that I am in studio from 9pm until 5am.
What is the leeway for me, is there any?
Hi Lehlohonolo,
Please see this link for info about PEP and PEPSE.
If your partner is on HIV treatment (ART) and has an undetectable viral load the risk of transmission is zero. Please see U=U here.
I exposed myself to HIV+ lady for 2 or less seconds n started taking pep drugs 30 hrs later. Before PEP process my results were negative. What are the chances of infection?
Hi Harizon,
The good news is that if you are both HIV positive, then having a baby is in many ways less complicated than if either of you was HIV negative.
Generally, by both using ARVs through pregnancy and having an undetectable viral load at delivery, this should mean that there is a 99% chance that your children will not become HIV positive.
For more info including on conception please see this guide to HIV pregnancy and women’s health.
Best wishes and good luck to you both.
Me and my wife are on ARVs and we need children..how can we go about this