anyone ever forget to take.....

[dingowarrior]

There meds?

I take TRUVADA & SUSTIVA,I have the capsale case with the letters of the week on them,so I stay on track.

Today is SATURDAY,as I was taking my night time dose of SUSTIVA,I notice I have a TRUVADA pill in my FRIDAY SLOT.
i'M PRETTY SURE i TOOK IT THOUGH,but now I'm second guessing myself....Did I take one out of the bottle yesterday instead of the case??

I just had my I.D . Appointment and had a solid report,I've been undetetable for a cuople of years now...Did I screw up big time??

[blue2boy]

It happened to me once but I took it few hours later.It was a year ago and my results are still fine.

[DCGUY2007]

I have missed doses of meds and sometimes my labs came back better then when I took them exactly as directed. Go figure. So I don't think missing one dose will be that big a deal 

[J.R.E.]

Yep, I missed a few in the past 4 years. Also doubled up one time. Everythng was ok !

Ray

[mjmel]

No, I don't believe you didn't screw up big time. 
 
I have missed about 7 nightime dosages and a couple of morning dosages in the last 7.5 yrs of taking meds; no upward spike in numbers but who's to say I didn't give the virus an edge towards resistance. So far, no problems.

I consider what other measures can I take to achieve 100% adherence. So far, I haven't come up with a fool proof way for my screw-ups. I have considered of an audible alert system that I could position next to the med containers. I suppose that is what I will try next. 

I take my meds at 6am/6pm daily. That is the schedule that works best for me. When I do realize that I'm late to take the morning dosage I adjust the nightime dosage by the same delay. The next day I'm back on my 6am/6pm schedule.
 
Mike

[keyite]

Only just started out on meds and am petrified of forgetting so have been 100% so far. Even had a few nightmares (non-Sustiva induced, I think) that involved forgetting or not being able to physically get to the meds.

But yesterday I did read that adherence (while always important) is most important while VL is still detectable, and particularly when you first start out. Because there is then still enough virus around to facilitate mutations. Once it has fallen below detection then the risk falls associated with forgetting the odd dose are somewhat lessened because so little virus is around.

I've bought a basic weekly pill box and have set my mobile phone to sound an alarm when it's time. The benefit of using the phone is that if other people are around then I can just pretend I've received a message or something. Although I did get caught out the other night in the cinema - I'd forgotten it sounds even though the phone is switched off - got a few irritated tut-tuts and stares..

[Desertguy]

I try to take my Atripla around 9 pm but it tends to knock me out soe if I need to stay up later I take later.  I forgot once & took the next morning.  My Doc says that there shouldn't be a problem unless you miss several times a month

[AlanBama]

Don't panic d.w., I don't think it's a big deal.   Over the years, I have discovered a random pill "stuck" in my pill box that I somehow missed.   Hasn't seemed to have too much of an effect on me.....just don't make a habit out of it!

keyite, sounds like you have a good plan!   When I first started meds (1988 - AZT monotherapy) we didn't have cell phones.   We had to buy those pill boxes with a little alarm on them from Radio Shack.   I still have mine somewhere....   I think setting an alarm is a great idea to help you remain compliant.

hugs,
Alan

[minismom]

When  Mini was first diagnosed and started meds, aside from the color-coded chart system, Hubby and I both wore alarm watches.  Resetting the alarms for the next med time was part of the dosing routine.  Back then, she took several meds several times during the day, so it was harder to keep up with. And, she changed / added meds every couple of months.  Now, she's down to 2 pills, 2x/day (7:30am/pm) so it's a lot easier. The hardest part is when she sleeps in.  When that happens, we do what Mike M. does and push up her night time meds. 

I'm sure in those early days we missed a couple of doses here and there and she's turned out allright (been u/d for nearly 6yrs).  Our next move is to get her an alarm watch and a pill box so she can start taking on some responsibility for her meds.  We'll still keep a close eye to make sure she takes them.

Mum

[keyite]

Forgot to say: as part of my paranoia about finding myself unable to get home in time for the next dose I bought this key fob:

http://www.jazebra.com/pill-fob-original.html

It's beautifully made and perfect size for one dose of Sustiva and Truvada. Ideal for always carrying a spare dose with me.

(I have no connection with the company)