Question
Will taking PrEP late work with on demand dosing?
27 April 2020. Related: All topics, PrEP.
Hi, I take PrEP with on demand dosing and after having sex after my first double dose i remembered my first dose post sex on time. However, my second dose was 5h late and 3rd dose was 5h late too. Will this affect my level of protection and should i continue taking it 5h late every day?
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your question. The easy answer is that you will probably be fine.
Both the drugs in PrEP stay in your body to allow for a few hours being late with dosing.
It is better to try to take them at the right time.
The after sex doses with on demand dosing only need to be taken 24 hours and 48 hours after the first double dose. Taking an extra dose for a third day will not do any harm though.
If you are still having sex every day though, then continue taking PrEP until 24 and 48 hours after the last time you had sex.
More information on real life examples for on demand dosing.
Hi Franco, yes your PrEP will still work. As mentioned in the main post being late is unlikely to have any effect on the effectiveness of your PrEP.
Hi, here below my last on-demand PrEP timing:
On Saturday, I took my first 2 tablets dose at 2pm (I had sex at 6.30 pm approx.);
On Sunday, I took a tablet on time at 2pm;
On Monday, I’ve been late with my third dose (I took it at 6.00 pm)
Will my prep still working?
Thanks a lot
Hi Amm, yes your PrEP will still work effectively. As the first dose of on-demand PrEP is a double dose, there is enough drug in your body to cover for being a few hours late.
hye, um im taking on-demand prep,
so first dose is 2 pills at 10:30 pm (18/6)
i had sex at 9pm (19/6)
i should take my second dose at 10.30 but im forgot it, so i take it at 12.46 am (20/6)..kinda2 hours and half late than my proper time
and i take my third dose at 10.35 pm (21/6)
will my prep still working effectively?
Hi Worried, as the first dose is a double dose and you took the second on time, being late with the third dose is unlikely to reduce how effective PrEP will be. Being 8 hours late with the last dose can mean that the on-demand PrEP will not be as effective, but taking the initial double dose on time still means this is a low risk exposure. You do not need to be worried.
Hey. So I take prep on-demand and took my first 2 tablets dose Sunday around 4pm. (That was 2,5hours before sex). Monday I took 1 tablet around 4pm also. Tuesday I forgot to take the pill at the same time and took it 8 hours late. Should I be worried?
Hi Sam, yes this can still be effective. While it is recommended to start PrEP 2-24 hours before sex, even an hour before is still going to provide some protection.
Hi,
Using condom of my partner is not satisfying for him, so he is removed the latex condom and do it analy. That specific hour I just took the Prep, no 2 to 24hrs before the activity. CAN THAT STILL BE EFFECTIVE. NEED YOUR RESPONSE ASAP please. Thank you.
Hi Daniel, this is okay. You do not need to be worried. Being half an hour late/early of the time the day before is not going to reduce how PrEP works. As your partner was also on PrEP this is a very low risk encounter regardless of you even being on PrEP.
So, for the first time I was on prep on demand.
Took on Friday about 3hours before sex(2pills) at 12pm
Then Saturday, took it at about 12:30pm, 30minutes or so later.
Then on Sunday I took it at 11:30am, 30minutes or so earlier.
Then Monday I took it at 12pm.
We had bare sex and finished inside.
He was saying that he’s on prep too.
Do you think it will be okay or should I be worried?