Question
What time should I take my ARVs?
27 August 2013. Related: All topics, Starting treatment.
I recently discoverd that I’m HIV and pregnant and my CD4 is above 500. I just want to know what is the right time to drink medication? Because I eat at 18h30 and drink the tablets at 19h00 is it safe?
Answer
Hi,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis but congratulations on your pregnancy!
The right time to take your medication will depend on which drugs you are taking. Can you tell me the names of the tablets you are taking?
Information about how to take different ARVs can be found on our meds page.
Hi James,
It’s quite common for one partner to test positive and the other negative. This can be explained by luck and different other risk factors.
But it’s important that you and your girlfriend talk to the doctor about HIV treatment (ART). Starting ART can help keep your girlfriend well, and can help protect your baby from being HIV positive.
You can find out more about HIV, women’s health, and pregnancy here:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
My girlfriend and I have been dating and last year she falls pregnant, and I didn’t know her status. And recently now she told me that she is positive and yesterday I went to clinic. I got tested and I’m negative so is it possible?
It’s not possible to take ARVs at exactly the same time every day. But, if HIV is undetectable, up to an hour before or after your chosen time should be okay for Tribuss. If you decide to take them at 8pm then you’ll have between 7 to 9 pm.
Is your question about having weird dreams? This can be a side effect of one of the meds in the pill. Are you still having these dreams? Is that why you’ve asked the question about timing?
You can find out more about Tribuss and side effects here:
http://i-base.info/guides/1561
Hi, I started ARVs three months ago, I experienced those side effects especially weird dreams. I’m taking Tribuss. My question, is that bad to take a pill between 7 to 8 pm? Or do you need to stick to same time?
Hi, Before effective HIV treatment, weight loss and poor appetite were common in people with HIV. You’re now taking medication but you don’t say what your viral load is. If it’s less than 50 (undetectable) then your HIV meds are working and the treatment is effective. You can ask your doctor if there could be other reasons why you’re losing weight.
You can find out more about HIV and weight loss here:
http://i-base.info/qa/468
Hi, I was diagnosed with HIV in January 2015 and my CD4 count is less than 500 and I have been taking medication since then. The problem is I keep on losing weight I don’t know what might be the problem.
Hi Lungile
Thanks for your message – and good that you are on treatment.
Without knowing which meds you are taking I can’t give info about the possible side effects.
Using a drug called efavirenz as part of the combination is quite common though. If your combination includes efavirenz, this might give you strange dreams or affect your mood. Usually this gets easier after a few weeks.
If you get difficult sude effects, please talk to your doctor or nurse.
What are the side effect of arvs it was my first day yesterday???
Hi Setshabelo. The only way to know your viral load is to have a viral load test. Not all countries have viral load tests though. In this case you have to guess based on your adherence – how well you take your meds – and your CD4 count. If your CD4 count increased since 2012 and has stayed at similar levels or gone higher, then it is very likely that your viral load in undetectable. But only if you have been good at not missing doses.
Am on treatment from 2012 so will my viral load be undectable