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 Mienie,
Forgetting your meds at home, can and does happen. For me to be able to help you out, I’ll need you to answer a few questions.
What meds do you take? What’s your CD4? What’s your viral load? Have you ever had any problems with resistance? When are you next back in clinic? And have you now restarted your meds?
I was on a business trip and forgot my medication at home. I was without the mesds for a week.
Hi Wendi,
Please see the above post, and Q4 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
What’s happened if I missed to take my meds for two days?
Hi Tam,
There’s no need to apologizes, this is why we have this service.
You’ll be fine with taking them as I suggested. Its better to have a little more, than not enough. Its also just for the one day.
I appreciate your kind responds. Please pardon me if I am asking too much. Like I said, since I didn’t take it yesterday at 9:30pm. I took it this morning by 7:45am. Should take another one by 9:30pm to continue the normal timing. And if I do take it again by 9:30pm, hope I won’t be taking in too much for a day?
Hi Tam,
Take your meds are normal. And try not to worry. Missing a dose, or being late with one happens to many people.
I slept off yesterday forgetting to take ART which is suppose to be by 9:30pm. When I woke up in the morning I tried reaching for info about what to do. After I couldn’t, I had to take the med at about 7:45am this morning. Please can I continue with the normal time tonight? Or rather what do I do?
Hi Ndumiso,
No. Once a person is positive, they will always test positive.
Is there a time after taking ARV for a period of a very long time when you test for blood to come out negetive results???