Welcome To The Last Step In Our Guide
For patients who initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate-Emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) or Tenofovir Alafenamide-Emtricitabine should be taken daily.
A- How-To Take PrEP?- When To Take PrEP?
You can consume Prep any time in the day, you can take it before or after food.
B- How To Take PrEP? – When Does The Protection Start?
The therapy is daily, the protection starts after 7 days from drug initiation for patients intending to engage in receptive anal sex and after 21 days for patients engaged in receptive vaginal sex.
C- How To Take PrEP?- Follow Up.
Patients receiving PrEP should receive counseling on other risk reduction methods and should be monitored every three months to ensure there are no drug-related toxicities and that there is no evidence of HIV acquisition.
Our Recommended Follow Up Plan For You:
- One month after starting therapy.
Visit your doctor and evaluate together the experience with an emphasis on any side effects.
2. Three months after starting therapy.
* Perform HIV Test:
Preferably with a fourth-generation antigen/antibody test.
Additional testing for HIV RNA may be needed if:
You have signs or symptoms suggestive of acute HIV infection or your antigen/antibody test is not decisive.
Acute HIV symptoms (most common): rash, fever, chills, headache, fatigue, sore throat, night sweats, loss of appetite, ulcers that appear in the mouth, esophagus, or genitals. Swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, and diarrhea.
If HIV-positive or non-certain status, Stop PrEP immediately and consult your doctor.
* Asses Your Kidney Functions:
Order blood creatinine and Urea test.
check step 2 for more details about kidney evaluation.
* Order Other STD Tests If You Suffer From Any STD symptoms Or Have A Suspicion.
Consult your doctor.
(Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, HSV and other).
* Pregnancy Test
In case of any pregnancy suspicion. We recommend pregnancy test, Blood beta HCG.
If positive, Stop PrEP immediately and consult your doctor.
We recommend you do the same check every three months until you stop the therapy.
When you plan to terminate therapy, Please check your HIV status again.
We recommend you to check our must-read before PrEP page.
In case you have any further questions please check our frequently asked question section.