Question
There was a stock out of ARVs, what is the risk?
18 February 2013. Related: Access to treatment, All topics.
I am on Odimune (Atripla) since 2012 June. My CD4 was 350 and viral load was 18000. In January 2013 CD4 was 450 and viral load less than 50.
I had to skip my treatment for two weeks because of delays in posting of my medication is this going to have a negative impact on my CD4 and viral load?
Answer
Hello,
I’m sorry to hear that you missed a few doses of Odimune because of stock problems. Has your clinic resolved this to prevent this happening again? Unfortunately this problem is far too common in South Africa. The Treatment Action Campaign are campaigning to improve this – you may want to get in touch with them for information about this, and what to do if this happens again.
It’s difficult to say whether or not this will have a negative impact on your treatment. Missing doses increases the risk of developing drug resistance, which would mean you would need to change treatment. The risk is probably lower if you stopped suddenly for two weeks and restarted, and higher if you try to spread your meds out to cover this period. But a lot of this is unfortunately down to luck. When you missed doses your viral load will have gone up, and it’s possible during this time that you may have developed resitance. The actual risk is probably quite low from a once-off, but the only way to know will be to monitor your viral load and make sure this stays below 50 and doesn’t go back up. See this link for more information about missed doses and drug resistance.
Make sure your doctor knows about these missed doses, and ask him/her to check your viral load now that you are back on treatment to make sure this is being kept down.
Hi Henry,
Do you mean ARVs that are out of date?
what happened when you take spoilt rvs drags
Hi Dszel, What country do you live in?
Why the clicnic dont have pills for me now 2 months I drink other poepls pills muc I makecourt casre
Pleas help me
Hi Bongy,
Though not ideal, you’ll be OK. The important thing is to take them as soon as you get home and try not to forget them when you leave the house. Think of them like your phone, or car keys.
Hy iv recently started taking arvs now i forgot my medication box at home and ill be gone for two days what can i do to resolve the issue
Hi,
If your viral load is undetectable, missing 2 days of meds should be fine. The important thing is that you take them as soon as you get home. Do not take more than what your daily allowance of meds is, so no double dosing.
Greetings
I’m so worried and panicking that I forgot my drugs at home. I’ve been very much committed to my meds intake since I changed to Regimen 2 (taking 2 in the morning & 3evening) 2 yrs ago after being drug resistant with Atripla.
Amazingly My Viral Load got UNDETECTABLE and CD4 at 280 in September 2017.
I just went on a weekend trip for family reunion and I just realized that I forgot my other medication traveling box with 2 days night dosage at home.
My main worry is I’m due for my 2 year anniversary blood test in 4 months time (14 September 2018)- will this 2 days night dosage misses affect my coming blood test negatively and cause drug resistance? And How do I fix this when I finally get home?
My whole weekend set for horse riding is all spoiled now and can’t rush home till Tues morning either. ..
Advice- how should I react when such happens next time, maybe a 1 day dosage miss – do I have to double the dosage the minute I realize to replace the missed one or simply continue like normal?
Thank you
Hi Bwalya,
Please see Q4 here:http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi
Am worried after missing my med tow times in a week I missed on wednsday and friday now am very scared please held should I change the med