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.
I have two months started with my treatment but I missed a dosage yesterday am I at risk
Hi Nkolly,
Being late with your medication won’t be an issue as it wasn’t that long. Your baby will be OK.
Hi I’m 32 yrs old. I’m HIV positive but my viral load is undectable. I’m a mother of a 4month baby. Last night it happen that I slept early bcz I got flu and I forgot taking my pill and remember I’m breastfeeding,my baby is drinking vitrim medicine which is I gv her in the morning. I woke up at 3 and remembered that I did not take my pill and I drink it. Nw I’m worried is there anything to worry about? It was a first time to happen
Hi Lindiwe,
Missing one dose of ARVs won’t have had any effect on your viral load. So no, there won’t be any risk.
Hi, I take my HIV meds religiously & have had an undictatable viral load for a year & 1 day I missed a dose & on that same day I had unprotected sex with my partner & 5 weeks later he started having flu, did I infect him? I’m having sleepless nights I don’t want to infect him
Hi Bukiwe,
Can I just confirm, did you miss one dose or have you missed three weeks worth? If its just the one dose this won’t be an issue. However, if its been 3 weeks, then your viral load will have rebounded. There will be a risk of transmission to your child. If this is the cases, please discuss this with a doctor.
Hi m bukiwe I miss doses its about 3 weeks now my viral load undetectable and m breastfeeding
Hi Tolu,
Yes, it’s a good idea for all of us to watch our weight. However, a balanced diet can be good for our general health. And this can help keep your weight to what’s best for you too.
Here’s the guide to a balanced diet and your health.
I.noticed, I m getting fat due to med I m on to. Can I watch my weight, though in don’t eat much and I don’t often takes fruit. Hope it wont affect my heath.
Hi Noname,
First it’s great to hear that your viral load is good. I take that to mean viral load is undetectable. And it’s good too that your husband’s TB was treated successfully.
When to start HIV treatment (ART) is a personal decision for us all. But does your husband know that starting ART has important benefits for health. Even if your CD4 count is still high.
Perhaps you could show him this link to the START study. START showed the benefit of treatment was seen for all important sub groups. For example in older and younger people (above/below 35). In men and women. In people living in both high- and low-income countries. And in people with and without risk for other important illnesses.