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.
Hi Elaine, what tablets are you taking and how many?
Why do you think they are not working?
My tablets don’t work in the morning and I take lots.
Hi Mr R, please speak with your doctor about changes with your sertraline medication. At i-base we are not doctors and only focus on HIV medication.
For further medical advice you should speak to your prescribing doctor.
I am on 150mg of Sertraline per day, this was upped from 100m a few months ago. Since the increase I have been taking the 100mg in the morning and the 50mg at nighttime. Previously I only took the 100mg at night, am I doing the right thing as my sleeping pattern has been awful every since being prescribed Sertraline.
Hi Fiki, have you had this discussion with your doctor? These meds can be taken together but they do require monitoring by the prescribing physician.
When taking them together there is an increased risk of adverse effects inc. drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and difficulty concentrating. It is advised that when you are starting these treatments together you avoid any activities that require mental alertness e.g., driving, until you are aware of how this interaction effects you.
I am on citalopram 10mg for depression and I am also 0n stugeron 25mg for vertigo. I understand I may not take these drugs together. What should I do
Hi Carolyn, please speak with your doctor before changing the time of your steroids.
I want to change my first 8 tablet single dose of prednisolone from pm to am
Hi Vagie, TLD should be taken at the same time every day. This is because after 24 hours the level of drug in the body drops and doesn’t work as well. This is why being late the next day can reduce how well the treatment works.
TLD is often recommended to be taken in the morning. This is because it can cause problems sleeping. If you are taking it in the evening, it would recommended to take it as early in the evening as you can for this reason.
This is really confusing. Can it affects the patient if the medicine (TLD) is not taken at the same time the other days?
What’s the best time you advice in the evening hours to take TLD?