What is the main purpose of PEP?

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is an emergency medication for HIV-negative people who think they've been exposed to HIV, taken as a course of antiretroviral pills for 28 days, and must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure to prevent the virus from taking hold, working best the sooner it's started. It's for emergency use only, not long-term prevention, and is used after potential exposure from unprotected sex, shared needles, or sexual assault.

What does PEP actually do?

What is PEP. PEP (sometimes called PEPSE) is a combination of HIV drugs that can stop the virus taking hold. It can be used after the event if you've been at risk of HIV transmission. To work, PEP must be taken within 72 hours (three days), and should be taken as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours.

What is the aim of PEP?

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. The word “prophylaxis” means to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease. PEP refers to the use of HIV medicines to prevent HIV infection within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure.

Can PEP cause rashes?

These rashes alone are not suggestive of HIV. While you are on PEP it is more likely a side effect or caused by any stress you have ongoing. Have you had any other changes in your life since starting PEP? As this is a skin reaction, it would be advised to speak with you doctor.

Why is PEP used?

PEP is used to prevent HIV after a potential exposure. Any licensed prescriber can prescribe PEP. Baseline assessment is required for people beginning PEP. Use CDC's comprehensive guidelines for prescribing PEP.

HIV Prevention – Let’s Talk About PEP

Is PEP as good as PrEP?

PrEP can be more effective than PEP:

PEP isn't 100% effective, and it won't prevent future HIV infections like PrEP can. So it's important to keep protecting yourself and others from HIV while you're on PEP by using condoms or taking PrEP.

What is another name for PEP?

Post-exposure prophylaxis, also known as post-exposure prevention (PEP), is any preventive medical treatment started after exposure to a pathogen in order to prevent the infection from occurring.

Is PEP hard on your body?

Yes. PEP can cause diarrhea, headaches, nausea, vomiting and emotional distress. Because of these side effects, many people taking PEP need time off work or school to focus on their health.

How do you know PEP is working?

If the PEP has worked, or the person was not initially infected, this will show as a negative HIV test. The test you did 17 days after the exposure will not be accurate yet. If the PEP has not worked, this will be shown in a positive test result. Testing 4 weeks after PEP will detect 95% of infections.

What are the disadvantages of PEP?

One risk of PEP is that you'll miss doses or not be able to take the medication as directed. This means the treatment might not be as effective at preventing an HIV infection. PEP can also cause side effects in some people, though they're usually mild.

What are the three types of PEP?

Bearing in mind the broad scope of what is a PEP, the FATF has further divided PEPs into three primary categories, namely Foreign, Domestic, and International Organization PEPs. Foreign PEPs: These are individuals who hold or have held prominent public positions in a foreign country.

What would PEP do?

Taking PEP may help your immune system stop the virus from replicating (multiplying) in your body. The cells that were originally infected with HIV will then die naturally without making more copies of HIV.

What is a PEP nhs?

PEP is a 28 day course of medication which is taken to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV. PEP stands for post exposure prophylaxis, which is a 28 day course of medication taken to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, after definite or probable exposure.

Is PEP 100% safe?

PEP is safe, but the HIV medicines used for PEP may cause side effects like nausea in some people. In almost all cases, these side effects can be treated and aren't life-threatening. If you are taking PEP, talk to your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Does PEP compromise your immune system?

PEP drugs are very hard on the immune system. You will need to take special care to stay healthy: plenty of sleep and lots of nutritious food will help your body fight off infection. Everyone experiences PEP side effects differently.

How to take PEP correctly?

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis): must be started within 72 hours of HIV exposure. be taken correctly as prescribed over a 28-day treatment period. dosage is usually 1 tablet taken daily (in some circumstances, a combination of 2 or 3 tablets taken daily).

How many hours does PEP stay in your system?

PEP is different from PrEP, a prescription medication for people at risk of exposure to prevent HIV before potential exposure. There is no firm research regarding exactly how long PEP drugs remain in the body. Experts suspect it is probably not longer than 24 to 48 hours. A 28-day PEP prescription covers one exposure.

When is it too late to start PEP?

PEP should be started as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours, and no later than 72 hours (3 days) after a potential exposure. PEP started after the 72-hour period may not prevent HIV infection. The sooner PEP is started, the more effective it is.

What are three drugs for PEP?

A 3-drug PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) regimen for HIV prevention involves a combination of three antiretroviral medications, typically two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) like TDF/FTC (Tenofovir/Emtricitabine) as the backbone, plus a third drug, often an integrase inhibitor like dolutegravir (DTG) or raltegravir (RAL), taken daily for 28 days after a potential HIV exposure, ideally within 72 hours, to stop the virus from taking hold.
 

Does PEP affect your mood?

PEP that contains a drug called efavirenz is not recommended in the UK, though is used in some countries where there is less choice for HIV drugs. Efavirenz has a higher risk of side effects including mood changes and vivid dreams. Discontinuation rates for PEP are often not very good.

Does alcohol impact PEP?

The problem some people experience is alcohol causing them to forget to take PEP. This is how it reduces effectiveness. However if you remember, there is no problem consuming alcohol while on PEP. Now that you have finished your course there is no risk of it affecting PEP.

Is 20 days of PEP enough?

Cost-effectiveness studies on PEP in different settings. New PEP drug research/development. Currently, all PEP regimes are a combination of oral ARVs that are recommended to be taken for 28 days.

Who is a candidate for PEP?

PEP is for people who may have been exposed to HIV in the last 3 days. PEP might be right for you if: You had sex with someone who may have HIV and didn't use a condom, or the condom broke. You were sexually assaulted.

What are the long-term effects of PEP?

During PEP side-effects are often noted to be short term and resolve when the course ends. There will have been no long-term effect to your genetic material. You are safe to have children. Truvada is linked to kidney function loss.