What side effects can I expect when on PrEP?
In the first few weeks from starting PrEP, you might experience a “start-up syndrome” involving nausea, headache, and/or stomach issues, which generally resolve within a few weeks of starting the PrEP medication.
How severe should these side effects be?
Nausea:
You might experience a lowered appetite, feel disgusted or discomfort from some foods or aromas, and might have a desire to vomit.
Headache:
You might have a mild degree of headache. This headache won’t be continuous and will be at a mild degree. An over the counter painkiller to ease the pain ( don’t use it excessively, preferably paracetamol and not Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory).
However, any excessive headache, photophobia, vision disabilities, excessive vomiting, dysphagia, dysarthria, and any neurological symptoms, Must undergo a full medical assessment.
Stomach symptoms:
You might experience nausea, mild vomiting, mild degree diarrhea or constipation.
Please note if you have any excessive symptoms, continuous and high degree Gastro-intestinal symptoms, you must undergo a full medical assessment.
Are there dangerous Side effects?
Kidney Injury:
Usually, PrEP can cause a mild decline in kidney functions. This can find in your blood tests as an increase in blood creatinine values.
Furthermore, this decline is usually reserved after termination.
However, in some case reports, some patients suffered from excessive kidney injury.
Decreased Bone Mass:
PrEP is reported to cause a lower bone mass in some cases. This has no clinical significance in most cases. However, in patients with osteoporosis and lowered bone mass, this can cause an increase in pathological bone injuries and fractures.
Exacerbation of Hepatitis:
As an anti-viral medication, PrEP can interact with Hepatitis infection if present and affect your recovery or even worsen the outcomes. For this reason, you should make sure you are Hepatitis Negative. Check our Step 2 guide to learn more about it.
Extremely rare Side effects:
Hepatomegaly with steatosis and lactic acidosis.
For how long should I take PrEP?
You should take PrEP every-day for at least one week before any sexual encounter.
Continue taking it 4 weeks after the last high sexual encounter. For More information check our Step 3 guide.
In what cases should I stop PrEP?
You have a feeling that PrEP causes you undesired side effects. Undesired side effects might not be mentioned here as any medication can cause subjective side effects in rare cases.
Moreover, if you think that you got infected by HIV, infected with hepatitis or you got infected with another sexually transmitted disease please consult your doctor.
In case you experience flushing, breathing difficulty, swelling and rash please call for medical help.
You must consult your medical doctor before stopping PrEP.