PrEP

PrEP

What is PrEP? HIV Prevention Drugs, the Alternative to Sexual Health Care

present PrEP has become an important choice for HIV prevention, especially for high-risk groups, and is considered one of the key tools recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to end the global  HIV  epidemic. This article will take you through a detailed understanding of what PrEP is, who it is suitable for, what are the pros and cons, and how to take PrEP for maximum effectiveness, so that you can make an informed decision before starting the drug.

What is PrEP?

 What is PrEP  ?  PrEP or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis is a drug used to prevent HIV  infection. PrEP  is available in the following brands:

  • Truvada, TENO-EM and TENOF-EM, which are 3 brands are a mixture of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and Emtricitabine. 

Descovy is a cross between Tenofovir alafenamide and Emtricitabine.

What is the difference between PrEP vs. PEP?

PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) and PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) are different   methods of preventing HIV  infection. The sooner you eat, the more you eat. The more effective, the better.

While PrEP is not taken as an emergency, but is prevented by taking medication before exposure, which can be done in two ways:  daily and on-demand.

Suitability

  • People who have sex with the same sex
  • People who have multiple sexual partners or change sexual partners frequently.
  • People who have an HIV-infected partner
  • Those who are engaged in sexual occupations.
  • People who are addicted to drugs and share syringes.
  • People who have been continuously receiving PEP (post-exposure HIV prophylaxis) and continue to engage in risky behaviors.

People should not take PrEP and should consult their doctor for other ways to reduce the risk. They are as follows:

  • People who are already living  with HIV, including people with immunocompromised conditions such as leukemia patients and people receiving chemotherapy, etc.
  • People with underlying diseases such as liver disease. Hepatitis, cirrhosis, and chronic kidney disease, etc.
  • People with a history of drug allergies, allergic to NRTIs antiviral drugs such as tenfovir, emtricitabine, or ARV  antiviral drugs, etc.

How much does taking medication protect against HIV  infection?

Taking PrEP is considered to be an effective prevention of  HIV  infection up to almost 100% when taken correctly according to a doctor’s recommendation.

However, the success of prevention depends on the discipline of taking medications, which are necessary to take medications as recommended by doctors so that the body receives adequate and continuous doses of the drug. In addition, using condoms along with every sexual intercourse will increase the effectiveness of prevention and reduce the risk of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases.

Pros and cons of taking medication

  • Advantages:  It is a safe and effective way to prevent HIV. There is a lot of evidence and proof. The use  of PrEP helps users gain greater confidence in sexual safety and reduce anxiety about HIV  infection.

Disadvantages: Taking  PrEP correctly may cause side effects such as nausea, headache, and abdominal pain, which usually resolve on their own within 1-2 weeks. thin bones;

 Where can I get PrEP  and how much does it cost?

      PrEP can be obtained at both public and private medical facilities nationwide.  If you need a one-stop service including risk assessment, consultation and dispensing, you can contact  Z by Zeniq, which is available for a comprehensive service.

What should I do before taking the medicine?

Starting to take PrEP requires a thorough medical examination. They must be tested for  HIV and blood to assess the function of vital organs. Especially the liver and kidneys to ensure that the body is ready for the use of drugs.

Once the medication is started, the doctor will continue to follow up on the results.   This follow-up will continue until the user stops taking the drug to ensure  that PrEP is safe and effective throughout the treatment period.

How to take PrEP correctly?

 PrEP is a drug that combines two  drug components in the same pill (Fixed Dose Combination)  with  2 methods to choose from. as follows

How to Take Daily PrEP

  • Taking  daily PrEP requires taking at least 7 days before exposure, taking 1 pill at the same time  every day to ensure adequate levels of infection prevention. Generally, doctors will prescribe medication for  3 months at a time to monitor and screen for  HIV  infection while taking medication. Before considering resuming the next round of medication.

  • Users should continue to take the drug. If there is still a risk, even if the risk is gone, the drug should not be stopped immediately, but should continue to take it for at least 4 more weeks, or as recommended by a doctor and undergo HIV screening again. If the result does not detect infection, it is safe to stop taking the drug.

  • Taking PrEP  on demand has  a specific eating pattern, starting with taking 2 pills at the same time.   After that, the user must continue to take the pill in a dosage of 1 tablet per day and must continue to take it for 2 days after the last sexual intercourse (24 hours per dose) or after the risk has expired to ensure complete and effective protection.

What should I do if I forget to take PrEP?

If you forget to take your medicine, you need to see a doctor for advice on how to take medicine appropriately for each individual.

Do I still need to wear a condom after taking medication?

Although PrEP can prevent almost 100%  of  HIV  infection, it cannot prevent other sexually transmitted diseases, so it is recommended to take PrEP along with a condom every time you have sex for the most comprehensive and safe protection.

Is it dangerous to take PrEP? What are the side effects?

PrEP  is a highly safe drug.  Although taking PrEP may have minor side effects, especially in the first  few days because the body is not yet used to the drug, which may manifest in the form of fatigue. Dizziness or nausea however These symptoms are usually mild and do not affect daily life, so the drug user can carry out various activities normally.

However, taking the drug may have side effects that can occur in some cases (a small number), which requires surveillance for the effects on kidney health and possible bone loss. For this reason, people taking PrEP should have regular kidney health checkups every 6 months.

Does PrEP have an injectable form?

PrEP is currently used in some American and European countries.  In Thailand, it is still in the research phase in terms of long-term outcomes and safety. However, studies and research have shown that PrEP tablets taken correctly as recommended by doctors are still the best choice today.

summarize

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a highly effective HIV pre-exposure prophylactic drug that is almost 100  percent effective. When used correctly and consistently, it is different from PEP used after exposure.

Taking PrEP is suitable for groups at risk of HIV infection, but it is not suitable for people with impaired kidney function or people who are already infected  with HIV. However, despite  the high efficacy of taking PrEP, it is recommended to use it in combination with condoms to prevent other sexually transmitted diseases.