Question

Will antibiotics make PrEP less effective?

27 November 2020. Related: All topics, Drug interactions, PrEP.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi

Thanks for your question.

These two types of treatment can both be safely used together.

PrEP use antiviral drugs to stop a viral infection.

Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.

Also, there are no drug interactions, where one med might reduce the levels of another.

This article below discusses using PrEP with the antibiotic doxycycline to also stop bacterial STIs. This won’t make PrEP less effective, but some researchers are worried that it might lead to antibiotic drug resistance.

DoxyPEP for STIs: Are we ready for prophylactic doxycycline for MSM on HIV PrEP?
https://www.thebodypro.com/article/doxypep-stis-prophylactic-doxycycline-msm-hiv-prep