FOREIGN travel and HIV medication

Advantages

After making the first few days’ adjustment, the routine is very simple, as timings are identical to those at home

Once you’ve adjusted to the local time, the doses should fit in well with meals and sleep

Staggering changes over a day or so reduces the chance of inadequate drug levels in the blood

Disadvantages

Changes can appear quite complicated

Making the changes may take several days

You need to plan at least a few days before travel

Plan three- Alter timings to the time at your destination immediately - without gradually changing
What you do
Take medication as you would in the UK until arriving at your destination. After arrival take your doses at the same time as usual but by destination time.
Advantages

It’s easy to do

No forward planning is needed

Disadvantages

Potentially, there will be longer gaps between pills

Potentially lower blood drug levels on day of changing

In the worst case, you could miss a pill completely for 24 hours

Because there are so many time zones it is daunting to think in general about medicine changes. If you are travelling only two changes will apply to you (one on the way there