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 ALAINE,
If you’ve missed 2 months worth of meds, your viral load will have rebounded. Though you can restart taking ARVs it’s important that you have your viral load tested. You should also talk to your doctor about missing a few months of meds as you may need to use another combination.
I missed 2 months of biktarvi due to the fact I was laid off and insurance was stopped, I could not cind help until today, am iin danger for missing 2 whole months
Hi Sandy,
You should be OK, however if you can please try and get your meds before they run out. Is there any reason why you’ve not been given enough meds to see you until your next appointment?
Hi , i wanna ask if i’ll missed 3days of my arvs, is it really bad? im taking efavirenz/Lamivudine/Tenofovir, Please let me know. cause My med will be until feb 29 Only, and i will be in my cuntry march 3, Please let me know
Hi Carol,
It’s very possible that this is simply a CD4 fluctuation, do you know what your viral load is?
Hey
I took FDC for 4 months after testing positive. I then stopped due to stress and depression. I stopped for 1 0 months. I’ve changed cities and now I’m feeling better so I went to the clinic and have started again, they don’t know I was on treatment before but they gave me what I was taking. My cd4 count is 684 and it has dropped from 790… I am very healthy and I’m leaving a healthy lifestyle. I just want to find out if its possible that I might have developed resistance
Hi Ellen,
As it’s just a few days you should be OK. However when you get home, if you can, give your doctor a call and let them know that you’ve missed a few days. As soon as you get home, do take your meds.
Hi I’ve forgot my arvs at home I’m out for weekend I’ll be home on Sunday today is Friday iam I at risk? My viral load was undetecterble
Hi Jacqueline,
Though missing meds for 4 days isn’t ideal, you should be OK, this is because it take a week or so before a persons viral load becomes detectable. When you get home, just let your doctor know that you missed 4 days, they may want to check your viral load just to be sure that its still undetectable.
Hello.
I have forgotten my pills and am out of the country for 4days. I will be back home on monday morning. I am scared my viral load will drop from undetectable. What should I do? I am in Ghana at the moment.