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 Aaryan,
What meds are you taking? How late are you taking them? And how often?
Will I get drug resistance if I don’t take my meds on time?
Hi Sherisha,
People have side effects when they start medication, not if they miss there meds for 2-3 days. For more info please see Q’s 4 and 7 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
What are the side effects of not taking ARV for 2 to 3 days ..?
What symptoms would the person experience..?
Hi Robert,
You’ll be fine. More so because tribuss contains efavirenz. For a more detailed answer, please see Q4 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
What if miss 1 1/2 hour taking my avr med. Is it ok. is it affect my treatment. I was taking avr 1 month . And tribuss the 1st time i miss it for an hour.hope someone would answer. Im just worried. Thank
Hi Nontando,
A persons blood group has nothing to do with HIV transmission. Its a person being positive and not having an undetectable viral load that will cause transmission.
Hi
can anyone explain,how blood groups works? like, if your blood group is positive(+) and hiv positive there is no chances of affecting your partner with hiv?
Hi Gilbert,
How atrozia, (this being a generic version of Atripla) should be taken is discussed here:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
Hallo,I am currently taking Atrioza med.What I would like to know is,is it fine if am taking them after I had my supper. For an example,I normally had supper at six thirty,then my med at eight o’clock at night.