Question
Is Odimune PEP?
25 February 2022. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.
I had risky intercourse. Four days thereafter I consulted and the Dr provided Odimune as PEP. Took half a tablet yesterday for the first time. My face, the corners of my eyes, the inside of my top lip, inside both cheeks and my throat are itching…it’s a burning type itching.
Is the Odimune prescribed as PEP? Please assist, Thank-You.
Answer
Hi, how are you?
Odmiune can be used as PEP, though it is not offered routinely first line due to its side effects – itching potentially being one of them.
When Odimune was prescribed were you instructed to only take half a tablet? Taking less than the required dose will limit how effective PEP will be. PEP is also only routinely offered if within 3 days of exposure. After this the effectiveness is not well understood if any. However if you feel more comfortable taking PEP and side effects are not troubling you, it is safe to continue the course.
How risky was the exposure? There are a number of factors that would change your risk and if this was considered low there would not be reason for PEP. Please follow this link for more information about transmission risk.
Josh.
Noted with Thanks
Yeah it could be some other rash. I will continue with Odimune and test much later.
Hi Josh, are you sure that this was shingles? It is much less common for shingles to present as a rash on the thigh as compared to the torso. Also, if this is shingles this does not mean your partner has HIV. Shingles can present for a number of reasons, HIV only being one of many. It is possible this was another kind of rash/infection.
As the insertive partner your risk is lesser. There is also no need for regular testing. As you are taking PEP, testing will not be accurate until your course ends. This is because PEP could potentially be suppressing HIV and the test would not identify this. Please follow this link to testing windows: https://i-base.info/guides/testing/what-is-the-window-period You can consider finishing PEP as the ‘first’ day of exposure.
Thank you so much for responding.
I noticed that the lady had ‘shingles’ on right thigh above the knee. I obviously cannot know what her viral load could have been. The presence of ‘shingles'(does not seem recent,) suggested to me that her immune system was or might have been low making transmission to me as the insertive partner more at risk. I will take routine testing every 3weeks or so. This was a once off incident. Am I overthinking this perhaps.
Thank you for your prompt response. Highly Appreciated