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 Zee,
There is a chance that your viral load may have rebounded, however you may still be OK. You shouldn’t feel worried about going back to clinic, their job is to care for you, not give you a hard time.
I haven’t taken my medication for a week now and I’m scared of going to the clinic . What are the risks ?
Hi Claudy,
Do you mean that your CD4 count was high, or viral load? Having a high viral load means that there is more HIV in your body.
Stopping medication isn’t something that is recommended. Your HIV will no longer be under control. Please see Q7 here: http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
By the time I started my arv I was given an option of not being on treatment since my viral load was high. But I now want to stop taking them what will happen to me if I stop taking my medicine.
Hi Hanna,
Yes, the tablets are probably fine. If they look okay you should be fine to take them. But is there a problem with a stock out at the clinic?
Please can you ask them if your meds supply will be continuous?
What ARVs are you taking, and do you have access to your CD4 count and viral load. Please let us know.
One of my ARV tablets expired last month.. Can I still take them??
Hi Liz,
There is a possibility that your viral load may have started to rebound. Are you able to have a viral load test? Have you restarted medication?
I haven’t taken the arvs for 5days. Dolutegravir, lamivudine, n disoproxil fumarate What will happen?
Hi Zamila,
I’m sorry to hear you havent taken your meds for 7 days. What is the reason? Are they out of stock? Do you have problems trying to access treatment? Please et us know.
Av not taken my drugs for 7 days how will this affect me