PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a medication that reduces your chances of getting HIV. There are currently three medications approved for use as PrEP: Truvada, Descovy, and Apretude. There’s also a generic version of Truvada.

Side effects vary from person to person and may include upset stomach (nausea, diarrhea) headaches, and dizziness. Patients who experience these side effects often experience them for only a short time while adjusting to the medication. These side effects usually go away within a few weeks.

More serious side effects are extremely rare and may include liver toxicity, renal impairment, and lactic acidosis. Discuss serious side effects with your provider or pharmacist before starting PrEP.

Research suggests that alcohol does not affect PrEP’s effectiveness. If you have any concerns or questions, speak with your health care provider or pharmacist.

The good news is that PrEP medications generally have few interactions with other drugs. Research suggests that most other prescription medications do not affect PrEP’s effectiveness. Make sure to inform your health care provider of any medications you’re taking before starting on PrEP. Consult your provider or a pharmacist for more information on possible interactions between your PrEP medicine and any prescription and non-prescription medicines and nutritional supplements you take.

Some drugs that move through the kidneys may increase the blood levels of PrEP drugs. These include high-dose or multiple NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.); acyclovir and valacyclovir; and certain antibiotics (amikacin, gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin). If you’re treating symptoms of a cold or the flu, check the ingredients of any over-the-counter medicine you take.

PrEP only works at preventing HIV. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections. We encourage you to use condoms to reduce transmission of other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and hepatitis C.

PrEP is taking two HIV medicines before exposure to HIV. PEP (or post-exposure prophylaxis) is taking three HIV medicines after an exposure to HIV.

If you are not taking PrEP and you think you were exposed to HIV, then you may want to consider taking a course of PEP. PEP involves starting HIV medicines within 72 hours of the exposure and taking them for 28 days to reduce the risk of infection. The sooner PEP is started, the more effective it is likely to be.

Sometimes people think they should take PEP while they’re on PrEP. This isn’t necessary if you’ve been taking PrEP as prescribed and have not missed doses.If you have missed doses—especially if you’re taking PrEP 2-1-1—and you think you’ve been exposed to HIV, then consult with your provider immediately about PEP.

If you have completed a course of PEP and a 4th-generation HIV test comes back negative, you can transition from PEP to PrEP without interruption, if you want.

If you forget to take a dose of daily PrEP, take it as soon as possible if it’s within the first 12 hours. If it’s beyond that, wait and take the next dose as usual. There’s no need to double-dose.

There are no known interactions between PrEP drugs and erectile dysfunction drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis).

Yes. Both Truvada and Descovy have been prescribed and used globally for many years. Not only is PrEP safe for most people to use, we also know how to screen for health issues that may occur in some people while they use either medicine.

Young people under age 18 can take PrEP. However, there are some things that healthcare providers look out for if a young person is taking PrEP.  Please contact your provider for PrEP for anyone under age 18.

Significant bone growth happens during teen years and young adulthood. Truvada can cause minor decreases in bone tissue in some people (around 1% in youth). This change is not clinically significant, and there is no indication that Truvada use will impact bone health over time.

Younger people may need additional support around adherence. You may want to try more than one kind of reminder to help you take your PrEP as prescribed while also juggling school activities, working, coping with stigma, and dealing with pressures from peers and family.

PrEP is very effective at preventing HIV, but it’s not 100% protective. A handful of HIV transmissions have been reported worldwide since 2012 in people who were taking PrEP consistently and as prescribed.

Although rare infections are possible, PrEP is still highly effective at preventing HIV when taken correctly.

Yes, you need a prescription for PrEP. After we get your health information and lab work, we will determine if PrEP is appropriate for you. If it is, our health care provider will prescribe the medication to a nearby pharmacy or the mail-order pharmacy of your choice.

PEP is emergency medicine to prevent HIV after a possible exposure. PEP must be taken within 3 days of exposure but should be taken as soon as possible to maximize the chance it will work.

You should seek PEP immediately if you:

• Had unprotected sex with someone who may have HIV or whose status you don’t know (unprotected means without a condom, or that the condom broke or slipped off during sex)
• Shared needles or other drug injection equipment with someone who may have HIV or whose status you don’t know
• Were sexually assaulted

If you think you were exposed to HIV at work, get care right away and then tell your supervisor. For example, if a needle stuck you in a health care setting.

PEP is two pills taken once or twice a day (depending on the medicine) for 28 days. It’s important to take PEP exactly as directed. Do not stop or skip doses. Otherwise, it may not work. Only stop taking PEP if your provider tells you to do so.

Side effects are typically mild and may include upset stomach, headache, and tiredness. Tell your provider or pharmacist right away if side effects make it hard to take the medicine. Do not stop taking PEP before talking to your provider.