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 Palesa, you are still undetectable. Your viral load is still suppressed and your medication is still working.
In the context of U=U, any viral load below 200 still means you are undetectable. As such it means you cannot pass on HIV via sex.
Hello, I received my viral load tests and the load is 64, does this mean I am no longer undetectable?
Hi Khanyi, you can do this by taking your normal night time dose. Then the following morning take your medication at the new time you wish to start. For the next day you may experience slightly more side effects as there is more drug in your body. This will go back to normal within a day or two.
From this point you can then continue taking your medication in the morning.
Hi I have switched to tld 3 weeks back and now I want to change from night to daytime. How do I do this
Hi Ngollo, on occasion this would be suitable. Though only if there would still be 12 hours before your next regular dose.
You may also experience a more difficult nights sleep as taking TLD later in the day is known to cause problems with sleep.
It can be appropriate to take Tld on night if your busy during the day?
Hi Jamie, occasionally missing a single dose is not going to affect your viral load. This will not risk you losing your undetectable status.
Hi there,
I forgot to take a daily dose of my meds a couple of weeks ago and was wondering if this would affect my viral load. I only realised it the day after that I’d missed the previous day’s dose. I’ve been undetectable for about 4 years now and have never missed a daily dose until now.
Hi Gregory, this is fine. Taking PEP at the same time every day is important but there is some leeway. 30 minutes late is not going to risk how effective your course of PEP is.
Hello I’m currently on PEP because I was exposed but I was 30min late of taking my PEP drugs, I just want to know if I’m safe please