What medication is used for PEP?
PEP is a combination of three drugs. You take them once or twice a day for 28 days: For adults, the CDC recommends tenofovir, emtricitabine (these two drugs come in one pill), and a third drug, either raltegravir or dolutegravir.Jan 6, 2020
How does HIV PEP work?
You take PEP 1-2 times a day for at least 28 days. The medicines used in PEP are called antiretroviral medications (ART). These medicines work by stopping HIV from spreading through your body. PEP should be used only in emergency situations.
How successful is PEP?
How well does PEP work? PEP does not prevent 100% of HIV infections but it is very effective at preventing HIV if used consistently and correctly. Observational research suggests that PEP can reduce the risk of getting HIV by more than 80%, which means some people in the studies acquired HIV despite taking PEP.
Who is eligible for PEP?
PEP may be right for you if you are HIV-negative or don't know your HIV status, and you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours: During sex (for example, you had a condom break with a partner of unknown HIV status or a partner with HIV who is not virally suppressed)Apr 28, 2021
Can I test positive while on PEP?
When should I have an HIV test after taking PEP? It is recommended that you be tested at 2 time points after starting PEP. The first test at 6 weeks can detect early HIV infection. If the test is positive, early detection has the benefit of being able to start HIV treatment as soon after infection as possible.
How quickly does PEP work?
How well does PEP work? If taken within 72 hours after possible exposure, PEP is highly effective in preventing HIV. But to be safe, you should take other actions to protect your partners while you are taking PEP.
What causes PEP to fail?
PEP failure, when it occurs, is usually attributed to delayed initiation, transmitted drug resistance, or suboptimal medication adherence.Oct 23, 2013
Does PEP have side effects?
Are there side effects to PEP? Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, vomiting, headaches and diarrhea. Approximately 40% of people who take PEP experience side effects, however most side effects are mild and most people don't have to change or stop taking their medicines because of side effects.
What can make PEP fail?
Not starting PEP promptly. Missing doses of PEP or not finishing the 28-day course. A viral strain that is resistant to drugs used in PEP. Use of antiretroviral drugs which have sub-optimal penetration of the genital tract (these drugs are no longer recommended)Apr 23, 2019
Can I stop PEP after 5 days?
In practice, after a needlestick risk. most health workers report stopping PEP within a week or two. Either way, holding back a few days of PEP does makes practical sense, especially when health services generally – certainly in the UK – keep people waiting for at least four hours, if not considerably longer.Mar 12, 2022
When is PEP not recommended?
PEP is not recommended when care is sought >72 hours after exposure. What Is PEP? National Guidelines published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2005 were updated in April of 2016.
How expensive is PEP?
A full course of PEP treatment without insurance is costly: usually between $600 to $1,000 at a hospital ER, in addition to other emergency medical costs.May 24, 2019
How to start a PEP?
Guidelines recommend the following baseline screening before initiating PEP: 1 HIV rapid test at baseline. If baseline rapid test indicates existing HIV infection, PEP should not be started. However, if rapid HIV baseline test is not available, there should be no delay in starting PEP. Oral HIV tests are not recommended for use among persons being evaluated for PEP. 2 Pregnancy test (if a woman is of reproductive age, not using highly effective contraception, eg IUDs or other long-active reversible contraceptives (LARCs), oral contraceptives, or properly used condoms, and with vaginal exposure to semen). 3 Serum liver enzymes 4 BUN/creatinine 5 STI screening#N#Persons being evaluated for PEP because of a sexual encounter should have STI-specific nucleic acid amplification (NAAT testing) for chlamydia and gonorrhea, and a blood test for syphilis 6 Hepatitis B testing, including hepatitis B surface antigen, surface antibody, and core antibody 7 Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody
What is a pregnancy test?
Pregnancy test (if a woman is of reproductive age, not using highly effective contraception, eg IUDs or other long-active reversible contraceptives (LARCs), oral contraceptives, or properly used condoms, and with vaginal exposure to semen). Serum liver enzymes. BUN/creatinine.
Is PEP effective for HIV?
PEP is only indicated for potentially exposed people without HIV infection. PEP is unlikely to be effective in people who have been exposed more than 72 hours before seeking medical assistance. PEP should be provided only for infrequent exposures.
New (September 17, 2018)
Guidance for Non-HIV-Specialized Providers Caring for Persons with HIV Who Have been Displaced by Disasters (such as a Hurricane)#N#external icon
Update (May 23, 2018)
Interim Statement Regarding Potential Fetal Harm from Exposure to Dolutegravir – Implications for HIV Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). Please see attached PDF#N#pdf icon#N#[PDF – 104 KB].
Resources for Consumers
Basic PEP Q&As – learn the basics about PEP and if it’s right for you.
Resources for Providers
Visit the Prescribe HIV Prevention website to learn about using PrEP and PEP to reduce new HIV infections.
How long does it take for PEP to work?
You must start it within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure to HIV, or it won’t work. Every hour counts!
Is PEP safe for HIV?
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.
Can you use PEP for HIV?
No. PEP should be used only in emergency situations. It is not intended to replace regular use of other HIV prevention methods. If you feel that you might exposed to HIV frequently, talk to your health care professional about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
What is PEP in HIV?
What Is PEP? PEP is a way to help prevent the transmission of HIV in an HIV-negative person who may have been recently exposed to the virus. PEP consists of taking three HIV antiviral drugs for 28 days after exposure to the virus.
How long after exposure to PEP?
Ideally, the first dose of PEP should be administered immediately, within two hours but no later than 72 hours after an exposure, because the effectiveness of PEP decreases over time. It is important to take all the doses—at the right time and in the right way—to give PEP the best chance of working.
How long does it take to take raltegravir?
Raltegravir or dolutegravir. Ideally, the medication should be started immediately, within one–two hours of exposure . A PEP supply of three–five days is usually first given for emergency use, followed by the rest of the 28-day dose. PEP should not be confused with PrEP, which involves taking two HIV medications on an ongoing basis, before, during, ...
How long does it take to get a repeat HIV test?
Repeat HIV testing should be obtained at six weeks, 12 weeks, and six months minimum. Sometimes these repeat tests are in addition to testing at 30 days and 90 days. If you test positive or develop symptoms of acute retroviral syndrome, an HIV viral load may be obtained.
Does PEP cover HIV?
PEP is covered by most, if not all, insurance plans. If you were exposed to HIV while on the job, workers' compensation may cover your drug medication treatment. No matter your method of exposure, PEP should be covered and will be administered to you by your doctor or another healthcare professional.
Is HIV transmission still a concern?
Although HIV rates have dropped substantially in the past decade, HIV transmission still remains a concern. In order to help prevent contracting the virus, it's important to use condoms, avoid unsafe sexual practices, take precautions when working around body fluid samples, and avoid the use of unsterile equipment—including needles.
Can PEP be used for HIV?
PEP should not be used as a regular means of preventing the transmission of HIV, and it does not prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms, when used properly, are the most effective way of preventing HIV and most other STIs.
What is PEP in HIV?
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a four-week course of medication that may block HIV infection after exposure to the virus. You can read an overview of PEP here. PEP should not be confused with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which involves taking medicine on an ongoing basis, before possible exposure to HIV.
How effective is PEP?
PEP is most effective when it is started soon after exposure to HIV, when doses are not missed and when people complete the 28-day course. The most common cause of HIV infection in people who take PEP is ongoing risk behaviour. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a four-week course of medication that may block HIV infection after exposure to ...
What is PEP treatment?
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a method of preventing HIV infection. It involves using a four-week course of the drugs used to treat HIV, taken very soon after a person may have been exposed to the virus. PEP consists of three anti-HIV drugs. Two of these medications are from a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors ...
What is PEP in medicine?
PEP consists of three anti-HIV drugs. Two of these medications are from a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and are usually taken together in a single pill. A third medication – from either the integrase inhibitor or protease inhibitor class of drugs – is taken separately.
How long does it take for HIV side effects to go away?
Side-effects often lessen, become manageable, or go away completely after a few days or weeks. Another point to bear in mind is that most of these data on side-effects come from HIV-positive people taking the same medications over many years as HIV treatment.
Can raltegravir cause a fever?
Rarely, raltegravir can cause a hypersensitiv ity (allergic) reaction. If you develop a rash with other symptoms, such as a fever, seek medical advice. The most common side-effects of emtricitabine/tenofovir are diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), feeling sick (nausea), dizziness, headache, rash, feeling weak, pain, stomach pain, difficulty sleeping, ...
Can you take zidovudine with emtricitabine?
BASHH guidelines state that zidovudine (250mg) and lamivudine (150mg), twice daily, may be used instead of emtricitabine/tenofovir. This combination may be preferred to emtricitabine/tenofovir in people with abnormal renal function, for example.
Is dolutegravir a protease inhibitor?
It is not a protease inhibitor and is not taken with ritonavir. Common side-effects associated with dolutegravir include: headache, insomnia, dizziness, abnormal dreams, depression, fatigue, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or discomfort, flatulence, rash and itching.
Is emtricitabine a PEP?
In the UK the recommended first-line PEP medications of emtricitabine/tenofovir and raltegravir are generally well tolerated by most people. Nonetheless, some people do have short-term problems with tiredness, diarrhoea, nausea, flatulence, headache, vivid dreams and other side-effects. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a method ...
