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 Nicholas, yes this can still be effective. As PrEP contains similar medication to PEP it can still offer some protection.
Having been on PrEP after exposure it means that PrEP would have helped bridge the gap until you could start PEP. This will still be effective.
For more information about PEP: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
On 72hours of an exposure with a positive woman I got prep a blue pill (truvada) then the following Day I went to the hospital then I was given PEP…..Will this still be effective If I continue taking Pep remember I got pep on 4th day though the 3rd I Took Truvada Prep
Hi Annomys, yes your test result is conclusive. You do not have HIV.
Same here after 30days of the xposure started taking pep and completed full course and i waited for 4months post pep and 6months post exposure .does this concsluive
Hi Nancyngina, please follow this link for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi I hard sex with someone infected its was just him touching my vg With his pennies and he ended up ejacurating outside I didn’t know he was positive about 5 days ago Can I still be safe I just found out this night about him being positive
Hi Tebza, as long as the PEP was started before Tuesday morning you will still be in the window of PEP being effective.
Hi I had unprotected sex on Saturday in the morning around 2.am the after again with the same person on Sunday afternoon. I only discovered that she was positive on Monday morning around 10am. I rushed to the Doctor and stated PEP at night around 10pm. Will PEP still be effective??
Hi, have you spoken to a doctor about your symptoms? Testing negative 3 months after the exposure would mean you are HIV negative. HIV causes an immune response which the body remembers. This is why when people can’t detect the virus, they will still test positive.
I had the same situation, had intercouse with someone hiv positive without knowing. They put me on pep after 5 days and I tested after 3 months and still negative however, I have stomach cramps, diarrhea, sharp pains and muscle aches and mouth ulcers. Does this mean the virus is hidden.