Question
Can a take PEP after 3 days exposure?
3 December 2021. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, PEP/PEPSE.
I had sex with an HIV positive person. I did not know their status and after two months of no sex we decided to go and get tested. I was negative and she was positive, they have put me on PEP. Does it mean I will be taking drugs for the rest of my life?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
If you have tested negative after 2 months there is no need to be on PEP. PEP is only effective if taken within 72 hours after a potential HIV exposure. Testing negative this long after a potential exposure means you are HIV negative and there is no need for you to be on any medication.
If you had recently had sex with this woman in the last few days, you may be required to take PEP depending on circumstances but a course of PEP would be no more than one month. PEP is not a life long medication.
If you have another question do get in touch,
Josh.
Hi Anonymous, how many hours after exposure did you start PEP? PEP is recommended to be started within 72 hours of exposure. After this there is no benefit to be had by completing a course of PEP.
For more information please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Please help I had sex on a Saturday and took pep on a Tuesday will it work