Question
What happens if I miss a dose?
5 February 2018. Related: Adherence, All topics.
Hi,
I’m aged 28, female, im starting this new Atroiza today. I’m responsible but what happens if I miss a day or 30 min off drinking my tablet.
Answer
Hi,
Thanks for your email.
The best reason to aim for the same time every day, is so that you get into a good routine. This will help you make your meds an easy part of your life. This is especially true when you first start treatment until your viral load becomes undetectable.
Generally it is OK to have a window of an hour either side of your normal time to take your meds. So if you aim to take it at 9 pm each day so long as you take it between 8pm and 10pm this will all be fine.
Most people will miss a dose at some point, but so long as this is not every week , this is also okay.If this keeps happening, please talk to your doctor about things that might help. The more doses you miss though the more likely that you will develop drug resistance.
Please see this page about adherence for more information.
Note: This answer was updated in February 2018 from a question first posted online in September 2013.
Good day
I started taking odimune last month with a CD4 count of 319 and viral load of 500. I recently just missed a dose of it. What are the chances of being drug resistant? Please help. I only have an appointment to see my doctor in two months
Hi Rich,
You’ll be fine. Please see Q 4 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi i missed my medicine last night (10:30)
I fell asleep and im so nervous right now what if the medicine will not work to me .its 5 am in a morning and ive been drinking this medicine for 3 months ( lemivudine ,efavirenz and tenofovir) what 8should i do?
Hi Ruth,
Most HIV drugs list nausea and vomiting as a side effect but this is less common and generally mild and short term. But you can talk to the doctor about the meds you’re taking and ask if you can switch them. Or you can ask for another tablet to stop you feeling sick.
You can read more about tips to stop you feeling sick here.
A was skiping my medication sends january, becz of everyday vomiting im.the morning , but a was eating my medication srns 2018 january, so i want to go back befor am geeting sick, it posible to go back.
Hi Akhona.
Please see Q4 here: http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
What happens when I missed the routine for a day cause I usually take the pill at 9pm then I slept early and forgot to take the pill and woke up at 2am and decided to drink the pill
Hi Mike,
This sounds okay to miss a dose! Most people miss one dose occasionally. So long as this doesn’t happen regularly you’ll be alright. This is a rare occasion. You’ve been on treatment for 7 months and this is just one missed dose. There’s no need to reschedule for a different time.
Help, I forgot to take my arv last night and 3 hours from now, I’m about to take my next dose. Will i be resistant to lamivudine tenofovir efavirenz already? Should I take my pill from last night and take another pill later when it’s time for my scheduled intake? Btw, it’s my 1st time missing a pill and I’ve been with arv for 7 months now. Thank you!
Hi Nompumelelo,
I’m sorry this sound really unfortunate. But can you try to get your ARVs sooner than waiting till you are back home? You can contact Treatment Action Campaign. They have a network building local activism in South Africa. They might be able to help where you live at the moment. Getting back on your ARVs quickly is important.