Author Topic: Can't recall if missed a dose (Read 11286 times)

LifeAfterHIVDiagnosis · « **on:** September 17, 2016, 05:08:31 pm »

Hi, everyone,

I normally take my complera with food between 12-2 pm every day. Today, however, I cannot recall for the love of God if I took the pill. I admit I was busy watching a movie and may have missed the regiment. But, I MAY still have taken it. My worry is now: if I did not take it, should I take it now? Or, what if I have taken it, but cannot remember, should I still take it? I am really concerned. Even though my doctor said missing a dose by a couple of hours is not a big deal, but I am thinking if I miss this dose for a day and take it next time the following day, I may have missed it by 24 hours! How bad is it? In any event, I took a pill, three hours later now. I just hope I will not overdose, in case I did indeed take it, but cannot remember.

Jim Allen · « **Reply #1 on:** September 17, 2016, 05:20:24 pm »

Hi

Calm down, you are going to be fine.

If it was me and I was not sure if i had taken the meds, I would have just waited and taken my next planned medication as normal. So I would have risked not taking 1 dose its not the end of the world just don't make it habit.

Same can be said for double dosing. I have done this a few times, again try to learn and avoid it from happening but making this mistake once off is also not going to be the end of the world.

We have all made a mistakes like this at some stage were only human.

Take it easy

Jim

LifeAfterHIVDiagnosis · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2016, 05:26:57 pm »

Thank you, Jim!!!

Jim Allen · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2016, 05:45:19 pm »

You're welcome

Tonny2 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2016, 06:11:56 pm »

ojo. Jim is right do not panic... Get a pill box so you won't forget it ever again... Best of luck... Hugs. ojo

Tonny2 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2016, 06:13:25 pm »

ojo. Jim is right do not panic... Get a pill box so you won't forget it ever again... Best of luck... Hugs. ojo

leatherman · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2016, 08:09:25 pm »

good adherence is usually defined by >=95%

missing several hours or even a day's dose will have no impact . . .
. . . of course, as long as it's not missing doses multiple times in a row.

bocker3 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2016, 11:29:11 pm »

Start using a pillbox and you will never have to wonder again. Just look and you'll know!

Mike

CaveyUK · « **Reply #8 on:** September 18, 2016, 08:46:05 am »

Quote from: bocker3 on September 17, 2016, 11:29:11 pm

Start using a pillbox and you will never have to wonder again. Just look and you'll know!

Mike

Actually, I got completely confused this week even with a pillbox!

I was out and had forgotten to take my pills with me one day, so used the ones in my keychain. The next day, I took the pills from the next 'slot' in the pillbox, but this was from the wrong 'day' so fast forward a couple of days later and I have pills sitting from earlier in the week that haven't been taken and I started panicking until I worked everything out..

The lesson here is - if you use a pillbox but take some from another source, then always remember to decant the pills you didn't take from the pillbox into the 'other source' at the earliest opportunity

I honestly think though that without a pillbox, I'd be all over the place. I frequently can't remember if I've taken them (good thing as it shows how easy and benign they are to take) and if I didn't have some form of organiser I would have absolutely no idea.

As others have said though, missing one dose isn't the end of the world at all.

bocker3 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 18, 2016, 10:24:10 am »

Quote from: CaveyUK on September 18, 2016, 08:46:05 am

Actually, I got completely confused this week even with a pillbox!

I was out and had forgotten to take my pills with me one day, so used the ones in my keychain. The next day, I took the pills from the next 'slot' in the pillbox, but this was from the wrong 'day' so fast forward a couple of days later and I have pills sitting from earlier in the week that haven't been taken and I started panicking until I worked everything out..

The lesson here is - if you use a pillbox but take some from another source, then always remember to decant the pills you didn't take from the pillbox into the 'other source' at the earliest opportunity

I honestly think though that without a pillbox, I'd be all over the place. I frequently can't remember if I've taken them (good thing as it shows how easy and benign they are to take) and if I didn't have some form of organiser I would have absolutely no idea.

As others have said though, missing one dose isn't the end of the world at all.

This is why I am not a fan of the keychain FOB. I like to keep things as simple as possible. For me, when it comes to my pills, this means:

Use a pillbox
Take pills at approx. same time morning and evening (actually tied to an "event" -- breakfast and bedtime)
If I'm out and don't have them - take them when I get home or, if too much time past "normal" dose time, skip. (By the way, in almost 11 years, I've probably only "skipped" 4-5 doses)

I find some folks get so worried about missing a dose or taking one "late" that they develop complicated mechanisms that just seem (from my POV) to make things more difficult.

Of course -- this works for ME -- what works for others may be quite different.

Mike

terrymoore · « **Reply #10 on:** September 19, 2016, 04:06:21 am »

I also find that an app on the phone can help. I use Medisafe (free). It keeps "nagging" me until i click "take" and then i see it marked as taken.
Build a system and turn it into a habit. Your system should have a validation process (like the empty pillbox or the app).
Good luck!

CaveyUK · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2016, 06:15:21 pm »

Well it had to happen sometime. I missed a dose last night.

It was a stupid distraction at pill-time (going to the gym, couldn't locate a fresh towel, hunted around the house but because it was getting late I bolted form the house and went to bed shortly after returning).

Only mid morning today did I remember that I had forgotten to take it.

Lesson learned though. I'm sure 1 dose won't matter, but I sure as hell don't plan on doing that again. The anxiety when realising today isn't something I want to happen regularly!!!

Tonny2 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2016, 10:58:46 pm »

OJO HELLO DEAR CAVEY, DO NOT BE SO HARSH ON YOU, IT'S JUST A LITTLE MISTAKE, YOU FORGOT YOUR PILL, THAT'S IT...I RECALL WHEN I USED TO TAKE MORE THAN 20 PILLS A DAY, AT NIGHT, IT WAS WHEN I USUALLY FORGOT TO TAKE LIKE EIGHT PILLS, JUST AT NIGHT, AND TRUST ME, THERE WERE BIG PILLS, (AGENERASE) HUGE CAPSULES, AND I USED TO TAKE LIKE SIX, IF I REMEMBER WELL, I WOULD SAY TO MY MOM, HOW IS POSSIBLE TO FORGET TO TAKE SO MANY PILLS, AND I USE A BOX PILL, BUT USUALLY I TAKE THEM RIGHT AFTER MY DINNER AROUND SEVEN, I DON'T GET UP FROM THE TABLE UNTIL I TAKE MY PILLS,, AS THEY WERE MY DESSERT, BUT SOMETIMES, I GET UP TO TAKE MY DOGGIE OUT, AND I FORGET, IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN ALMOST 22 YEARS TAKING MEDS, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I FORGOT THEM, (NOW I JUST TAKE FOUR, MORNING AND NIGHT) BUT I DID TAKE MY DOG OUT AND NEST MORNING I SAW MY NIGHT PILLS, I DON'T WORRY BECAUSE I KNOW IT DOESN'T HAPPENE OFTEN...PLEASE RELAX, AND TRY TO USE AN ALARM ON YOUR SELL PHONE, OR SOMETHING, IN MY TIMES, I USED A TABLET, BUT THE KIND OF TABLET WERE THE TEN COMMAMENDAS WERE WRITEN, WITH A HAMMER AND A CHISEL, HAHAAH COMPRENDE...HUGS OJO

CaveyUK · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2016, 01:36:55 pm »

Thanks Tonny. Wise words as always

paintedroom · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2016, 06:33:35 am »

For the last 3 weeks i`ve had a trapped nerve in my neck which means i cant sleep lying down..i have to try sleeping sitting upright.. with predictable results.As a consequence i`ve been yo yoing with my meds between 8 and 10 throughout the 3 weeks.I wonder if this can compromise effectiveness?

And Merry Christmas to all,love and best wishes for a season not without its stresses.. and a special thanks to the mods here for all their selfless work and no less skill and patience.xo

Jim Allen · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2016, 06:58:00 am »

Hi

It does not need to be down to the exact min adherent.

Few hours each way will not make any difference with Genvoya however for your own "routine" I would recommend trying to keep to near enough the exact time daily.

As always you should check if unsure with the doc, but between 8-10 daily is adherent.

Jim

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/hiv-treatment-adherence

bocker3 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2016, 07:01:31 am »

Quote from: paintedroom on December 05, 2016, 06:33:35 am

For the last 3 weeks i`ve had a trapped nerve in my neck which means i cant sleep lying down..i have to try sleeping sitting upright.. with predictable results.As a consequence i`ve been yo yoing with my meds between 8 and 10 throughout the 3 weeks.I wonder if this can compromise effectiveness?

And Merry Christmas to all,love and best wishes for a season not without its stresses.. and a special thanks to the mods here for all their selfless work and no less skill and patience.xo

I've been taking my meds between 8 and 12 for 10+ years now, with not a single blip. I'd say you've got nothing to worry about here. Meds today have quite a bit of "flexibility" built into them, so a few hours difference in dosing isn't going to be of concern.
Now go stand in the corner and get some sleep.

Just kidding, I hope your pinched nerve gets better quickly!!!
Mike

Mike

bigsur123 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 28, 2016, 10:50:04 pm »

I had to learn to write the date I first started the bottom on the bottle so I could count backwards. I keep mixing up too..I think I double dosed a few times by accident before I started this.

LiveWithIt · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2016, 07:47:18 pm »

Get a pill box with sunday to saturday. I have one that has AM and PM and I use all the AM once week and all the PM the next week. That way I always know if I took the meds and I always fill it every other Wednesday. I love this pill container, it fits more than 6 pills per day.

BKKKevin · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2016, 09:30:46 pm »

I have a pocket pill box that holds 7 pills that I refill every Sunday...
inside I put a sticker like this:

M - 6
T - 5
W - 4
R - 3
F - 2
S - 1
S - 0

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Author Topic: Can't recall if missed a dose (Read 11286 times)