Question

Can TLD be used as PEP?

5 January 2022. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, PEP/PEPSE.

Can TLD help someone who has been in contact with an HIV positive person to prevent them from contracting HIV before 72 hrs?

Answer

Answer: Josh Peasegood

Hi, how are you?

Yes you can. TLD is a combination that can be used as PEP and for the management of active HIV infection. PEP stands for post exposure prophylaxis. PEP is used to prevent established infection after exposure.

TLD is a first choice recommendation for PEP. The course lasts 28 days following a high risk exposure. It is only used in cases where the exposure was within 72 hours. After this, regardless of what drug is prescribed, PEP will not work.

However, if your partner was using effective HIV treatment (ART) , you will not be at risk. Having an undetectable viral load on ART means HIV is not a risk. Please see:
i-base.info/u-equals-u/

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

If you have any more questions please ask,

Josh.

126 comments

  1. Tumi •

    Hi Josh, just to clarify. I’m on Pep because my partner had an exposure a few weeks ago but we tested together the day I started Pep and both tests were negative.

    Can we still continue to have unprotected sex or there is a risk of me contracting HIV if he has it?

    Can I also continue taking Acriptega as Prep after my 28 day Pep period?

  2. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Tumi, while on PEP you are unsure of your status. For this reason it is recommended to not have sex/use condoms until you can confirm your HIV status.

  3. Tumi •

    I am on day 12 of taking Acriptega for post exposure. Is it safe for me to have unprotected sex.

    After the 28 days can I continue taking it as Prep

  4. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Stacy, what is the name of the PEP you are wanting to mix? It isn’t recommended to switch between different types of drug. Some medications will have different names but be the same drug which will be okay to mix.

  5. stacy •

    Hi.Is there any harm in mixing types of PEP in a course of 28 days ?

  6. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi G, HETERO is the name of the company that have made TLD. This means that this is real and that you are taking TLD. This is seen here: https://i-base.info/guides/14970

  7. G •

    Hello Josh, I am taking the TLD but I don’t know if it is real, at the top left it says HETERO, do you know if it is real ?

  8. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Adan, this is normal. While on PEP you are likely more stressed than normal and this will can cause the symptoms you have mentioned.

  9. Adnan •

    Hi Josh
    thank you for the response before, just want to follow up your questions. PEP that I consume is TLD. Usually I feel sleepy after taking the medicine and esp after office hour. But It doesn’t disturb my life and I can still have exercise as a normal.
    Until today (16th day using PEP) I don’t have any other symptom like fever, rash, sore throat, etc and get used to about the sleepiness. I must admit that Im being stressful because of possibility of infected by HIV. Do you think it is normal or what should I do?

    Thanks

  10. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Jay, this is a good article to begin with: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216036/ The recommendation of TLD specifically can be found on the WHO guidelines. These are used to guide clinical practise globally and mentions the evidence base behind the recommendations.