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 Todor, it is great that you are doing well in meds and have an undetectable viral load. This means you did not expose your partner to HIV. There is no risk of transmission to him, even when having thrush.
Thrush can take 7-14 days to clear up from when you start treatment. It is normal for you to still be having symptoms after only 4 days of treatment.
Hello there
I’m on tld and take my meds well, it’s been three years now and I’m undetectable. I recently had unprotected sex for the first time since my diagnosis, and the day after this I had a crazy bout of what I thought was vaginal thrush. I went to get thrush over the counter medication but it’s been four days and there’s still some residual symptoms left. What could this be? Also did I expose my partner to hiv as he is uncircumcised.
Hi Ummy, yes you can recover. Have you restarted ARVs? and while you have a CD4 count below 200 have tou been given any antibiotics to take to prevent other infections?
I stoped ARVs one a whole year now my cd4 are less than 200 can i recover after taking ARVs?
Hi Lilian, do you know what the result of your viral load was? I am sorry that these tests show you have a resistant strain of HIV, but it is really good your doctor is being proactive. Do you know the name of the medication you have been switched to? There are a lot of HIV medications and many work differently to each other. It is because they work differently, that if you are resistant to one, a different medication will work.
Do you know your CD4 count? I recognise that this must be difficult and discouraging for you but switching early on your treatment is really good. It helps to get your viral load suppressed as quickly as possible.
Hello sis. I’ve been on treatment taking my medications religiously everyday as prescribed but Strangely the the virL load test came back that the charge was still higb Doctor figured that the Hiv type I have is highly resistant to the medications I’ve been taking for 9 good months
This has greatly discouraged me on the new medications she has put me. I’ve been sick Constantly and it’s troubling. What can I do?
Hi Kenzy, as you have missed your ARVs over a 6 weeks, the risk of your viral load rebounding is minimal. In this instance, your partner is not at risk as you have still been taking your ARVs. Is there a reason that you have missed a few doses in the last few weeks? As you have not missed multiple doses in a row, the risk for viral rebound is low however it is still a risk. It is best if you can continue taking your medication every day.
Hi I missed abt 6 doses of my arvs but not in a row in one and a half months period my viral load was last taken in April and was undetectable but I had unprotected sex recently is he at a risk pliz am so stressed and I’ve been undetectable for years now
Hi Luthando, it is great to hear how well you are doing on treatment. HIV drugs suppress viral load and help the immune system recover. They do not help to boost confidence. Any boost in confidence you have felt is you, not the treatment.
What is the name of the meds you have started?
It’s been a week now since I started my Meds, I didn’t get sick or having any signs of being positive, but I tested positive now I feel so good since I started my medication, I want to ask this Meds also boost confidence when they boosting immune system?? It’s really feels good om my body