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.
Hi
I usually take my medication (tribuss) at ten so it happened that I felt asleep then woke up at 12 midnight and took it. Will that cause me any problems because after that I felt dizzy like the way I used to during the first week of taking meds
Hi Nthabiseng,
As you’ve missed four doses of your meds, it’s recommended that you discuss this with your HIV doctor.
We’re aware that for some people getting access to HIV meds can be a problem. One way of avoiding this again is to ask for an extra supply of meds.
If you live in South Africa you could try the Treatment Action Campaign, they can help with access to treatment.
There’s more info on tips to remember taking your meds here.
Hi I’m taking aluvia and efavirenz what would happen if I miss four doses
Hi Jay,
You’ll be fine. Missing one dose won’t have any impact on your health.
Hello i am taking efevirenz_tenofovir_lamivudine 3in cocktail, once a day pill
I missed a dose once, i was out of town and left my pill at home. I have been taking since 2014 and have only missed one dose ever since. My last viral load was last june of last year and it was undetectable i havent had taken my viral load yet since then. Should i worry that i missed my dose?
Hi Osman,
Though ARVs should be taken daily, its OK to miss a dose. This won’t affect your health.
hello
i am traveling to the village but i expect to spend 6days but today is 7 days what will happen to me
Hi Hope,
Missing two doses of meds isn’t ideal, you should however be OK.
Hi I am currently on tribuss and I have missed two doses. What could be the consequences of this. I am worried
Hi Anonymous,
Do you mean Atenef?
That’s a version of Atripla. There are three drugs in Atenef. And the good thing is that these drugs take a long time to leave your body. So if you miss one dose ocassionally there’s no problem.