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

Answer: Josh Peasegood

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.

Please see this link for more information about PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

If you have another question please ask,

Josh.

93 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Theo, no you do not. Being an hour late is not going to effect how well your PEP works.

  2. Theo •

    Hi, I missed taking my pep at my usual time which is 8:00 P.M , I than took it at 9:15 P. M an our after. Do I run a risk of pep not to work?

  3. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Stacy, having an extra day of PEP is not going to be of any problem. This extra tablet has not put you in any danger.

  4. Stacy •

    Hi I might have extended taking my PEP.Instead of taking it for 28 days I took it for 29 days.Could I be in danger ?

  5. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Samuel, no you cannot skip PEP. You need to take PEP everyday for the length of the course you have been prescribed.

    Missing a few days and then extending how long you take PEP is not going to be effective.

  6. Samuel •

    Can I skip pep for four days and after taken it for 24days and countiues with the other six later

  7. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Ojos, PEP needs to be taken daily. If you decide to stop at 24 days, there would be no reason to take the remaining 6, 4 days later. If you skip days, PEP will not work as well, if at all.

  8. Ojos •

    Can I skip pep for four days and after taken it for 24days and countiues with the other six later

  9. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Martin, if you are having unprotected sex while you are on PEP – unsure of your status, your partner will need to be protected. You can do this by using a condom or starting PrEP: https://i-base.info/guides/prep PrEP is similar to PEP but it contains one fewer drug but is still effective at preventing HIV transmission.

  10. Martin •

    I am on PEP, do I need to start my girlfriend on PEP if we have unprotected sex