Taking Biktarvy questions

[curiousfortruth]

Good morning/good evening!

Currently on Biktarvy.  I assume it's best to take Bik at the same time every day so you don't forget and maintain the habit, however, is it safe to take it one day in the morning and then the next day in the afternoon or evening?  I'm not saying this would be done randomly all the time, but is it okay to take it at different times? If so, does there need to be some spacing in between?

I heard there is an injectable form of Biktarvy. Anyone know if it's possible to do a combo of injection some months and other months to take the pill (while traveling for example)?

[Jim Allen]

I assume it's best to take Bik at the same time every day so you don't forget and maintain the habit

Correct, and to ensure that drug levels remain sufficient.

is it safe to take it one day in the morning and then the next day in the afternoon or evening?  I'm not saying this would be done randomly all the time, but is it okay to take it at different times? If so, does there need to be some spacing in between?

You should write some of these questions down and confirm them next time you speak with your pharmacist or doctor.

Anyhow, these meds have a good half-life and if once in a blue moon, I forget to take my pill in the morning and then remember in the afternoon, I take it in the afternoon, and it is fine.

Do start building a habit of taking it at the same time of day daily +- a few hours and confirm these questions with your pharmacist.

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/biktarvy-epar-product-information_en.pdf

Missed doses
If the patient misses a dose of Biktarvy within 18 hours of the time it is usually taken, the patient
should take Biktarvy as soon as possible and resume the normal dosing schedule. If a patient misses a
dose of Biktarvy by more than 18 hours, the patient should not take the missed dose and simply
resume the usual dosing schedule.
If the patient vomits within 1 hour of taking Biktarvy another tablet should be taken. If a patient
vomits more than 1 hour after taking Biktarvy they do not need to take another dose of Biktarvy until
the next regularly scheduled dose.

 

[Jim Allen]

I heard there is an injectable form of Biktarvy. Anyone know if it's possible to do a combo of injection some months and other months to take the pill (while traveling for example)?

I suspect you mean Cabenuva cabotegravir + rilpivirine). This is a long-acting injectable regimen, given once every four or eight weeks. As far as I am aware and open to correction, there is the option to switch to oral cabotegravir & rilpivirine if an injection is missed. I doubt that doctors would administer this knowing the person constantly switches between oral and injectable, but you can talk to your doctor about this.

The other long-acting injectable on the market is sunlenca . However, this is a salvage treatment option only, so it is given every six months with optimised daily oral ART to help maintain or suppress the viral load.

I hope the information helps. You can also find a list of HIV meds here: https://www.poz.com/drug_charts/hiv-drug-chart