PrEP (also known as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis), is a therapy to reduce the risk of getting HIV from sex by around 99% when taken early and consistently. For people who take intravenous drug, PrEP is able to reduce the risk by around 74%.
Indications for treatment
PrEP may be beneficial if you are HIV Negative but are exposed to these risk factors recently;
had anal or vaginal sex with a partner with HIV
have not consistently used condoms with new sexual partners
The medications available include Truvada (Tenofovir 300mg / Emtricitabine 200mg), Tenof EM and Tenvir EM. The treatment regime depends on your risk profile;
Daily PrEP. If you take PrEP daily to have unprotected sex, you should take it for 7 days BEFORE you are adequately protected
On-demand PrEP. If you take PrEP on-demand for unprotected sex, you should take two pills at least 24 hours before sex and then one pill 24 hours & one pill 48 hours later
After unprotected sex. If you have had unprotected sex, you should take PEP daily for seven days
After potential exposure to HIV with a known HIV positive partner. You should continue taking PEP for 28 days
Image PrEP Daily
Side Effects of PrEP therapy
PrEP therapy may have some side effects such as nausea, diarrhoea, headache, dizziness, tiredness, fatigue as well as stomach discomfort or pain. These symptoms are usually temporary but do see your doctor or pharmacist if these symptoms are unbearable.
Follow-up Care
If you are taking daily oral PrEP or PEP on a long term basis, you should need to see your Doctor for physical examination and repeat blood and HIV tests to monitor your condition.
Consult your Doctor or Healthcare Provider if you are at risk
Disclaimer. TELEME blog posts contains general information about health conditions and treatments. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such.
If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or other professional healthcare providers. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website.
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