Question
Can I develop resistance if I missed 4 days of Atripla?
15 February 2012. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics, Resistance.
I have been taking Atripla for about 2 years now, not missing one day. My Viral Load is Undetectable, and CD4 Count is near 500.
My question is this.
This past friday I had to renew my prescription to Atripla and my local pharmacy couldn’t get in touch with my doctor, so i was without my meds until tuesday when she got back, so that left me 4 days without meds. I finally got some, and now back on schedule.
Do you think there is a chance I could develop resistance?
Answer
I’m very sorry to hear about your late delivery but glad to know that you are back on schedule.
Atripla is quite a ‘forgiving’ drug because it does take a long time to leave your body, so it is very unlikely that you will develop resistance.
Since you have missed 4 doses of your medication, it is recommended that you discuss this with your HIV doctor. The only way you can tell if you develop resistance is if your viral load becomes detectable. Your doctor can run some tests to determine whether this has happened.
We are aware that for some people getting access to HIV medication can be a problem. One way of avoiding this again is to keep an extra supply of your medication. You can ask you pharmacy for an extra 2 weeks supply.
Another back up can be if you know anyone else who takes the same medication as you. If you do then you can temporarily borrow some from them. By joining a support group, you may meet other people on the same treatment. This way you can support each other if this were to happen again.
Hi Patrica,
Though not ideal, you should be OK as your viral load shouldn’t have rebounded. However, please let your doctor know that you’ve missed 4 days.
am home for 4 days and I forget my pills at my work place i will go back on Monday am scared
Hi Lisi,
Is there a hospital that you can go for access to meds instead of a pharmacy?
If you aren’t able to access meds for a week, its very likely that your viral load will rebound. Therefore, as soon as you get back home you’ll need to have a viral load test. You’ll also need to restart taking your meds.
Because there’s a risk that your viral load will rebound, if you’re in a sexual relationship you’ll need to use condoms. This is as a precaution.
You’ll be OK, but please do consult your doctor when you get home. And just to be clear, your CD4 count won’t just drop, it doesn’t happen like that.
Hi there. Lisi here. I take Trivenz and unfortunately forgot my meds as im away home for a week. I called my Dr and asked what to do. He advised that i should chech if the pharmacy can help but they couldn’t. Now im very worried ill be able to go back to my place next week Monday.
Hi Sandy,
You’ve posted this comment on a Q&A about Atripla. Is that what you’re taking?
As Li says above, Atripla stays in the body longer than some other HIV meds. So it’s unlikely that there will be drug resistance and unlikely Atripla will stop working. So your baby will not be affected.
But it’s a good idea to talk to your clinic about this. You can ask them to test for viral load and for drug resistance.
I forgot my pills and it been 4 days can my baby be affected?
Hi Nairie,
Though not ideal, as meds need to be taken daily, it is highly unlikely that your viral load will have rebounded. If it was undetectable, then it should still undetectable.
pls I undergone caesarean section on Saturday afternoon and was on IV all through till Monday evening I started taking meal and my medication. that is to say I skipped 2doses, but the doctors says its okay that I have no need to be worried about complication of resistance. I used Efavirenz /lamivudine/tenofovir (EFV/3TC/TDF), sold under the brand name cipla. now am breast feeding as advice by the medical team and also administering Nevirapine oral suspension to my baby. pls I hope there is no need to worry of transmission, because my baby is doing well.
Hi Nee,
Though not ideal, this should be OK. The main thing is to try not to forget to take them. Have you thought about setting an alarm.
Hi i have missed 2 doses of my meds and it’s only been a month since I started taking them. I take tribuss