Question
Will I be ok if I was 3 hours late with my meds, just once?
27 May 2013. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I took my ARVs more than 3 hours late last night. I just wanna know if it still ok? It happened only once.
Answer
Hi,
This is very unlikely to have any impact on your health either way.
As you know, it is not a good idea to be late. But if this only happens occasionally, you will be fine. Everyone is likely to miss or be late once in a while.
How late you can be is related to the meds in your combination. Once your viral load has been undetectable for a while, then most combinations have an hour or two flexibility either side or your target time.
For some meds that are processed by your body more slowly, you may have even more time, but it is still always safer to find the time that works best for you and tom aim for this every day.
Hi Martha,
How much medication do you have left?
Hi I started using ARV last month I will be sleeping at work for a month and I don’t have enough medication will it be safe for me
Hi Gloria,
This is likely to be fine. Even when starting ARVs you have a window of about 1 hour either side of your target time.
How’s it going? What ARVs are you taking? If you have access to your viral load and CD4 results, please let us know.
Hi I slept earlier today so when I wake up my time of drinking ARVs passed by 1 hour I started my treatment on the 1st November is it still safe with me um worried
Hi Ion,
Missing your meds by 2hrs won’t be an issue. You’re going to be OK.
I am taking arv for a month now and yesterday i was delayed taking my med for 2 hours. How do i know if my med is working?
Hi Sinothando,
Do you mean you were 5 hours late taking your meds? If so, this is very unlikely to have any impact on your health.
It’s great that it sounds like you’re using your alarm to remind you to take your meds at around the right time.
But how’s your HIV treatment going? What meds are you taking. And do you have access to your viral load and CD4 count? Please let us know.
I was too tied i fell asleep i woke at 2am took mi mad n i was confused what ws happening becos mi alarm was on mi mom tried to call i dnt hear anything i was 5 hours later pls help me
Hi Mbalie,
This should be fine if it’s just once. Most of us are late or forget very occasionally. And it’s okay.
As Simon says above, this is very unlikely to have any impact on your health either way.
On thursday i forgot to take my mads and Saturday as yesterday i took them 3 hours late i was suppose to take them at9 and i over slept and took them at 00:41 what Will happen to me but i dont usually do that