Been on HIV meds without interruption x 15 yrs and have remained very healthy and undetectable for the entire period. Currently prescribed 400mg Reyataz, 100mg Norvir,and Truvada daily. Have a little over 3 month daily supply on hand.

Lost my job this summer and started taking meds every other day to conserve meds. After two and half months of this new regime my VL is still undetectable, T-cells 448 and other labs normal.

Not eligible for a "high risk" insurance pool until I have been without any insurance for 6 months. I have enough meds to take every other day to cover this period, but not daily.

Would I be better to continue with every other day meds until I can get insurance or let my meds run out and go without any meds for an extended period of time?

Please advise. Thanks.

Hello and thanks for posting.

Sorry to hear about your difficult insurance situation. I'd see if you might be eligible for drug-company assistance programs and work with your case manager or local AIDS service organization on these points.

I would definitely not, repeat not try to stretch your medications to fill the void. Taking your medications with lower frequency is the same as programed non-adherence and risks irreversible drug resistance to some very important medications. It'd be better to take your medications as recommended for as long as they last, then stop all medications at the same time- then go without meds until replacement sources are found.

Hope that helps, stay in touch, BY