Question
Can I switch to take meds in the morning instead of the evening?
18 December 2011. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I have just started treatment this week on a combination of truvada, ritonavir and atazanavir.
I have started taking them in the evening but with my work I now think moving to taking them at breakfast would be easier.
Can I just start doing that or is it more complicated than that now I’ve started?
Answer
Hi
There is a lot of flexibility in timing to find what works best for you.
With the meds in your combination is also easy to switch from evening to morning. Take your last evening dose at the usual time, and then take another dose the next morning at the time you want to take them. You are doing this to make sure you never leave more than 24 hours between doses, when the drug levels could drop too low and risk resistance.
Your drug levels will be slightly higher for the first few hours of dose the next day. This is unlikely to be a risk because there is already a wide range of variability in drug levels achieved by different people.
If you are worried about this, your last evening dose could be taken without the ritonavir, but this might be unecessarily cautious.
The only meds that really need to be taken at night are efavirenz and rilpivirine, or the combined pills that include these meds (Atripla and Complera).
Your HIV pharmacist would also be able to talk to you about this on the phone if you want to check this with the clinic first.
Hello Zanele and thanks for getting in touch.
Although all medication have side effects, not all people will get them.
Telatri is a generic formulation of the ARV combination: tenofovir disoproxil, dolutegravir, lamivudine.
You can read more about it here: https://i-base.info/guides/14970
There are no common side effects that include joint pain in this combination.
What has your doctor said about this?
It’s best if you make your doctor aware because they can run some tests and provide you with an explanation and advice as to why this is happening.
Please also keep a diary of your symptoms: when this is happening, what helps with it, if it’s more intense at times and when is that.
Your doctor will be able to use this information to understand why you have this pain and how to help you manage it.
What causes painful joints while taking telatri tablets?can it be effects of treatment or what cuz I’m struggling with painful foot joints n bones
Hi Morison and thank you for your question.
How long have you had this? Was it there before you started ARV medication?
If this is something new it might be important to raise it with your doctor.
They can help you manage it.
Hi I’m Morison. Is it possible to take other treatment with HIV treatment because my body normally itching