Question
What are the risks of taking an over-dose of ARVs?
4 January 2011. Related: Adherence, All topics, Drug interactions, Side effects, Support.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Taking one or two extra doses of ARVs it not likely to be a problem. But is could increase side-effects from the drugs for a couple of days.
To give you a more accurate answer please let me know how much of an overdose you are talking about. For example, is it just forgetting someone had already taken the drugs and taking them again once? Or are you talking about someone say taking a whole months supply at once?
Taking a double dose by accident on rare occasions shouldn’t cause serious harm, however, a deliberate overdose of a lot of ARVs could increase the toxicities to such an extent that it damages the body’s vital organs.
Hi Edwin, thanks. There are two reasons why your friend need to tell his doctor or clinic.
The first is that taking so many meds at once might overload his kidneys or liver. The clinic needs to check that organ function is okay. Otherwise serious problems can occur. This needs to be checked as soon as possible. A doctor friend described acture liver and/or kidney toxicity as being something that no-one would want to go through.
The second, just an important, is for his medical team to understand why this happened so they can provide support so it doesn’t happen again.
hello, a friend of mine took half of a bottle of his HIV meds. I know that their are side affects with just taking one pill but what would happen in this case. I am very worried for him.
Hello Perseverance and thanks for getting in touch.
I am very sorry to hear you are feeling so unwell.
Please go to an accident and emergency department as they can help you there.
Please speak to someone you trust about this: a doctor, a nurse, a religious leader, a psychologist.
There are always ways if there is will.
And even if things don’t look good right now, there are ways to turn your life and your situation around.
Please don’t give up. I am sure there are many people in your life who want to help you.
Go to the hospital and start a discussion with those you can trust and love you.
I took 6 of them and I’m not hiv positive, they Don’t even belong to me
I just wanted to end my life
Hi Chrestina, I would need more details to comment. For example, the name of your meds and how long this lasted. Everything is likely to be fine though but please check with your clinic or pharmacuy that you have the right information now. You might also need to tell the clinic if you are going to run out of your meds more quickly, so these extra doses cna be replaced.
I was taking 3 pills per day but I didn’t know?
Hello Werdna, how are you feeling?
I am just checking in to make sure you are still ok
Please contact us at questions@i-base.org.uk if you would like to discuss this further
Or please discuss with your doctor the reasons that make you feel so unwell
Am talking about someone say taking a whole months supply at once. Effects are ?
Hello King and thanks for getting in touch.
please contact your doctor or clinic straight away.
They need to know the names of your meds and how many you took.
You can also call the accident and emergency department of any hospital.
These people will give you medical advice based on the details of what you have taken.
Your HIV clinic can also help with support to look at the things in life that made you feel this way and to do this.
Please do this now.
I hope that things get easier and that you will be ok.