Does PrEP interact with food or with other medications?

Oral PrEP is just as effective whether it is taken with or without food.

However, TD is absorbed more quickly if it is taken with food and so this could be used if you are late with your dose.

PrEP only interacts with a few other medicines, covered below. 

But if you routinely take other prescribed or over-the-counter meds, always tell your doctor (including your GP) that you are taking PrEP. Any pharmacist can also check for drug interactions.

Tenofovir (TD) should also be used with caution if you regularly take other drugs that affect the kidneys. These include some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), especially diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen. 

Routinely taking these drugs with PrEP can cause kidney problems. Avoid these meds when taking PrEP and please let your doctor know if you regularly need to take them.

TAF can interact with TB meds, anti-epileptics, St John’s Wort and others. These interactions are not a problem with TD.

It is easy to check for interactions here:

hiv-druginteractions.org/checker

For trans and non-binary people

PrEP is very safe for trans and non-binary people taking hormone therapy.

Info on interactions between PrEP and other meds, including hormone treatment, is on this site from Liverpool University:

hiv-druginteractions.org/checker

Last updated: 1 July 2025.