Question

I am visiting the USA for 6 days but forgot my HIV meds – will I be okay?

4 July 2026. Related: Adherence, All topics, Travel.

Hi there, I’m travelling and have forgotten to bring my medication. I will miss 6 days of Delstrigo. I have been undetectable on ART for around 20 years. Will it be ok to miss 6 doses and then restart or do I need to try and get an emergency prescription?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi there

Thanks – this is a situation which is not ideal but also will probably be okay.

Please don’t worry as several studies suggests you are likely to be fine, especially if this only happened the once.

Your viral load will also likely still be undetectable after six days. This is not ideal but life is complicated and sometimes this happens. Please just restart your meds though as soon as you get home.

If there was an easy way to get a small supply to cover you, then this would in theory be good. However, unless you have insurance that would cover this, the difficulty and cost of doing this in the US is unlikely to be worth the likely effort.

If you were from the US and visiting the UK, then it would be relatively easy to get a small supply. The opposite isn’t true though.

Visitors to the UK might be able to get an emergency supply by visiting any HIV clinic and explaining the situation. This is because meds are free in the UK, but not in many other countries.