What Are Pills To Prevent HIV?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) Is a medicine taken to prevent getting HIV. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74%.
PrEP is most effective when you take it as prescribed. Your risk of being infected is higher if you don’t take it as directed.
Pills To Prevent HIV In South Africa?
Truvada®
The original form of oral PrEP available is produced by Gilead and called Truvada®. Generic forms are available in South Africa. It is a combination of two HIV medications (tenofovir and emtricitabine).
How Do I Start?
You’ll need an HIV test before starting PrEP. If you already have HIV, taking PrEP medication may create resistance to the drug, which may make it less effective for treating your HIV infection.
If you want to take a PrEP pill and can’t do an in-office visit, you may be able to do it through telehealth. Your doctor may give you an appointment over the phone or through video. You can order an HIV testing kit, then mail in the specimen. Your doctor can help you decide if it’s right for you.
Is PrEP Safe And Effective?
If you take PrEP properly, it’s 99% effective against HIV infection from sex.
It’s less effective at preventing HIV infection if you inject drugs. Experts are still gathering information, but right now it looks like PrEP lowers your risk by about 74% if you inject drugs.
How Fast Does It Work?
PrEP may start working after a few days. The medication needs time to reach a certain level in your body to get the most protection.
How long It Takes To Work?
- If you have receptive anal sex, also known as bottom, it may take about 7 days of taking a pill every day.
- If you have receptive vaginal sex or take injection drugs, it may take 21 days of daily pills.
- It’s unclear how long it takes to work if you have insertive anal sex, also known as a topping or insertive vaginal sex.
- Doctors aren’t sure how long it takes for PrEP shots to work.
- If you take PrEP on demand, which means before planned sex, you need two pills 2 to 24 hours before you have sex, and then 1 pill 24 hours later, and another 24 hours after that.