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 I m urooj,I m on arvs with undetectable viral load,I was taking my meds on time,but from 2 days I m taking them on different time,like after 45 min from my time and 30 mint from my time,is it oky?okay? It’s gonna effect on my viral load
Hi Urooj, you are okay. This will not effect your viral load. ARVs are taken at the same time everyday to avoid the drug level in the body falling. It is a guide to take them at the exact same time but 45 minutes either side will not cause risk. If you are struggling to keep taking your medication at the time, you may find changing the time permanently helps to take your medication at the same time more consistently.
Hi Baba,
You should be OK because your viral load is already low. When will you be able to get some more meds?
I was diagnosed on the 11 of August and a week after that i started with Trivenz and have been taking my meds at 7:10pm or sometimes a minute late but i ran out on Saturday so its been 2 days now waiting for my medication to be delivered, so am i at risk of being resistance to the drug my cd4 was very high and my viral load was relatively low at 92 copies , will this be affected
Hi Ananda
Tribuss contains three HIV drugs (ARVs) – efavirenz, FTC and tenofovir DF.
The efavirenz means this should be taken before you go to sleep in order to reduce side effects.
Hi , I’m on Pep Tribuss , I take my meds everyday at 15:30. For the last 4 days the times have been different, but I have been taking it everyday. What is the best time to take it .
Hi Rosina, thanks. Lots of HIV meds can be taken at a time that is best for you. But a few are better to take either at night or in the morning. If your combination includes efavirenz, this is better to take at night. If your combination includes dolutegravir, this is better to take in the morning. Following this advice should help you sleep better but please talk to your doctor who can go through this in more detail.
Hi
My cd4 count its 250, am taking my meds at 21h00, can I change it to 05h45 before I go to work. Am struggling to sleep and am only gonna see my Doctor on the 30th. Please help
Hi Elizabeth, please tell your doctor about this. There may be things that can help depending on which drugs you are using. Or you might be able to use a different combination.
I took arv and I always got headache