Question
Can i change the time i take my ARVs?
29 January 2016. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I take my ARVs at 8am and 8pm. Can i change it to 10am and 10pm?
Answer
Hi,
This is not a problem as long as you consistently take them at the new time. Jumping back and forth mean you have a risk of developing resistance. This would mean your meds would stop working well.
People do change the time they take their meds for all sorts of reasons though. Again this is ok as long as you keep taking regularly at the new time.
The only concern about switching from evening to morning is if your combination include the drug efavirenz. Efavirenz needs to be taken 1-2 hours before you sleep, so you reduce side effects.
Hi Andy, thanks. Yes it is easy to switch the time you take your meds. This should also help yopu to sleep better. It is bettert to take TLD during the day.
Hi im taking my meds at 8pm and its TLD so Im having a problem of sleeping. Now can i take my meds in the following day at 12noon and skip my meds at 8pm the same day since ill be chaging my intake of meds to 12pm moving forward.
Hello Carlos and thanks for getting in touch.
Please do not worry. You did well to change the dosing time to a time that was convenient for you.
Skipping the evening dose will not have any effect on you or your health.
You did well.
(Using google translate for Spanish – apologies for any mistakes – I don’t speak Spanish)
Hola Carlos y gracias por ponerte en contacto.
Por favor no te preocupes.
Hizo bien en cambiar el horario de dosificación a un horario que fuera conveniente para usted.
Saltarse la dosis de la noche no tendrá ningún efecto en usted ni en su salud.
Lo hiciste bien.
I take TLD and I have trouble sleeping.
I changed the dosing time from 8pm to 8am
But I ignored the 8pm night dose and I started taking it at 8 am.
I have been taking it for 6 days now on the new schedule.
Will I have problems for having skipped that 8pm dose?
Yo tomo TLD y tengo problemas para dormir.
Cambie la hora de la toma de 8pm a 8am
Pero pase por alto la toma de noche 8pm
Y comence a tomar a las 8 am. Llevo ya 6 días tomando en el nuevo horario.
Tendré problemas x haberme saltado esa toma de 8pm?
Hi Eunita, the time you take your meds is up to you. HIV meds that contain efavirenz are better to take beofre you sleep and meds containing doluteravir are better after you wake up. So long as you don’t get side effects, then the time is up to you.
I changed time for taking my arv drugs i was taking 8pm and changed to 8am is it bad?
Hello Cynthia and many thanks for the question.
Please don’t worry. Forgetting one tablet every now and then happens to all of us.
Missing one tablet will not affect your undetectable status.
If however this happens more often (like every weeks and for more than one days) you might develop resistance.
It might help you remember if you use some of the following tricks:
1. an alarm can remind you it’s time to take your tablets
2. a pill box – you will know if you had your medication on the specific day and you can take it as soon as you check
3. taking medication at a specific time of day or connected with a specific activity (for example after you brush your teeth)
Here is some more information : https://i-base.info/guides/starting/forgot-my-pills
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at questions@i-base.org.uk if you want to continue this discussion privately.
Goodmorning I just realized I forgot to take my one antriviral yesterday morning I’m on the one tablet I took my usual tablet at 8 but I’m worried I forgot to take one yesterday and I’m undetectable thank you