Question
I missed a dose of PEP.
2 January 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Hi. I am taking PEP and I forgot to take my pill at the exact time I always take it. I remembered in 8 hrs and took the pill. Can I continue to take my pill the exact time I always take it? And does this reduce my chances of not getting HIV? Please help.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes you can continue to take PEP at the usual time you do.
Although it is better to not miss any meds, if you do forget once or twice, this is unlikely to make much difference. Especially if these are doses towards the end of the month.
While it is not advised, missing a dose by a few hours is unlikely to cause a problem. PEP remains in the body for more than 24 hours. As you remembered tot take PEP, the levels within your body would have stayed at a biologically significant level.
If you have another question please ask,
Josh.
Hi Steve, everything we know about PEP is here:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I had sex with someone and I immediately got scared and took PEP within 10hours, I drank it for 7 days while asking the person to test but she refused telling me she knows she doesn’t have HIV, I then didn’t take PEP on the 8th day and had raw sex again 9th day because I gained ( so ibasically skipped 2 days), then on the 10th day she tested and she was positive, I immediately returned to PEP. Please tell me if I’m safe and how effective, im not sure what to think don’t know how long does it take for PEP to kill the virus in the body, is 7 days enough or not. Thank you.
Hi Koti, the PEP you took 2 days prior will not protect you from further exposures 2 days later.
After 24 hours PEP does not remain effective in the body and if this was a high risk exposure you will need to restart PEP.
After 28 days of Pep period is completed, then on the 30th day you get exposed again
Does the pep you took on the 28th days still work on the body to protect possible exposure???
Hi Normal, there is no risk to your partner. For more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing