Question
Can Truvada be used as PEP?
17 March 2022. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics, HIV transmission, PEP/PEPSE, PrEP.
Hello I’m writing from South America, Chile, first thing I am sorry about my english since it is not my first language. I had a risky encounter (broken condom , I was bottoming) and I started PEP at 34 hours after, but they only gave me Truvada. I don’t know if this 28 days prophylaxis will be effective, any advice will be welcome.
Thanks in advance
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Truvada alone is not the most effective medication to be used as PEP.
Truvada only contains two medications instead of three meds used in PEP. Are you able to speak to a doctor? Truvada does contain some of the medication of PEP, adding a third drug (maybe raltegravir or dolutegravir) with Truvada would be better.
However this does depend on availability and other options may be available where you are.
Even if you can’t get an additional drug, there is still benefit to taking Truvada and it will reduce the risk of transmission.
Josh.
Hi Luis, your tests are conclusive. A 4th generation test is conclusive 6 weeks after PEP. Your result 8 weeks post PEP is sufficient. You are HIV negative.
Please follow this link for more information about testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Did you take any other medication alongside Truvada? Truvada is a combination of 2 medications often used as PrEP. To use Truvada as PEP a third medication is required as PEP is a triple therapy. More information can be found here: https://i-base.info/pep-and-prep/
Hi again I need some advice (again) As I wrote before I had an exposure 12 weeks ago ,I took Truvada as PEP ( they just gave me that ) finishing PEP I had a negative result, then another negative one month after PEP and another negative result 8 weeks after PEP ( 12 weeks since the exposure) I would like to know if these results are a good sign or they are not , I must add that all the test were 4th generation , thanks in advance and sorry about my English
Hi L.R, these tests are not fully reliable yet but they are a very good indicator. A 4th generation test is not fully reliable until 6 weeks after PEP. The test you took at 4 weeks after PEP is 95% reliable. So this is a good sign but one more test in a couple weeks is needed.
I wrote another question, didnt know that I can post here :( Im sorry
I have an Elisa (4th generation) negative two days after finishing PEP and another negative (4th generation) 30 days after finishing PEP , I would like to know if these results are reliable .
Thanks a lot
Hi LMan – thanks – it would be good to know :)
Hi Luis and Richard,
how is your situation after Truvada only regimen?
Hi Richard, thanks – I am shocked that any US doctor would not be better infomred about PEP as this has been widely used for at least 20 years. I hope everything goes well. Perhaps also speak to a doctor about PrEP – but a better doctor at a good sexual health clinic. This is something you might want to know about for the future.
I am in the same situation, I am from the USA and I was only prescribed Truvada as PEP and they said it would work but the internet says no.
I am on day 4 of my 30 day medications.
Let me know how it goes for you.
Hi Luis, thanks for the comment and update. HIV is quite a difficult virus to catch so you are much more likely to still be HIV negative. Plus you have done everything you can, and even the two-drug PEP can help. Good luck with everything – please let us know how it goes.
Thanks a lot Josh for the answer. Unfortunately in my country hospitals or clinics are not used to PEP. In fact they don’t even know what PEP is about ,I had to explain them what it was ,so they recommended me TRUVADA (after googling it ).
Even though I knew that the treatment wasn’t complete and had doubts about it I went to buy the medicine (wich was really expensive) and I started at 34 hours after the “accident”.
Thanks a lot for the info and I hope everything turns out fine for me
Sorry for my English again I hope you were able to understand me