Question
I’m often late with my meds, should I worry?
20 November 2012. Related: Adherence, All topics.
I haven’t been disciplined when it comes to taking my medicine.
I have been staggering it between intervals of at least 2 hours. Can this behavior cause complications for me?
Answer
It’s important to try to take your medicines at the same time everyday. An hour or so either side of your planned time is usually OK. But much more than this could cause problems.
Being late or missing doses increases your risk of developing resistance. This happens when HIV is allowed to multiply and to change in ways that can stop treatment working.
Not every late or missed dose leads to resistance. But the more often you are late the more likely this is.
Please see our starting treatment guide for more information about adherence.
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