Question
How important is it to adhere to my combination?
19 April 2012. Related: Adherence, All topics.
How important is a strict 24 hour dosing interval with darunavir/ritonavir, Truvada?
I take mine at breakfast and never deviate more than 20mins from 24 hour dose intervals.
I have to travel to eastern Europe for work several times this summer and going out I presume that a 22 hour dosing interval from one day to the next won’t be a problem, but what about the 26 hour interval on the day after I come back?
Would this be a problem? Or should I just get up and have breakfast earlier and have two consecutive 25 hour dosing intervals? Or am I just worrying unnecessarily?
My VL is undetectable and CD4 182
Answer
Firstly, it’s great that you have such good adherence. Adherence (taking your medication as prescribed) is important with all combinations.
In response to your questions, as you have an undetectable viral load, deviating a couple of hours on the few occasions that you travel should not be an issue. This is because both darunavir and Truvada have long half lives. After taking a drug, levels peak quickly then drop as the drug is cleared from the body. The half life therefore refers to the time taken a drug to clear from the highest concentration to half this level.
As you already have a good routine going, it is important to maintain this on the other occassions when you are not travelling. This will ensure that you maintain the undetectable viral load you currently have.
Best wishes.
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