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 doctor, i had an exposure with a sex worker, didn’t know her status, and after 30 hours exposure i bought only truvada myself( not having any test before it) and i took only truvada for pep for 28 days. On the day 80 after exposure( 52 days after last day of truvada) i had test whose name was hiv ag/ab combo abbott. I don’t know if it was a 4th gen test because now i’m in russia. Am i safe with that result? Thanks a lot for helping
Hi James, an antibody only test requires 90 days after finishing PEP.
I got an antibodies test after 98 days exposure-70 days after finishing 28 days taking only truvada as pep. Do i need to test again?
Hi Leandro. PEP and PrEP use the same drugs. The difference is PrEP uses a combination of 2 drugs and PEP usually uses 3. Truvada is a combination of 2 drugs.
While 3 is recommended, if you have been given a 3 drug combination for PEP it still has some effectiveness – taking Truvada as PEP is better than not taking anything.
Your test is conclusive – you are HIV negative.
But i read they say that truvada is Prep, not PEP, i still took in 28 days. So does that effect my result? The test was on the day 49 from last pill of truvada
Hi Leandro, a result course of PEP is 28 days – you did not need the 30 days.
A 4th generation test is accurate from 42 days after the last day of PEP. As you tested after this, you are HIV negative – your result is conclusive.
Hi doc, i have a question. After exposure doctor recommended me to take truvada as pep, there were 30 pills but i took only 28 pills on 28 days. Then on the day 77 after exposure( 49 days after last pill truvada) i got 4th gen test abbott which came negative. Do i have to test again? Or i can come back with my normal life? Thank you
Hi Conor, yes your test is conclusive – you do not have HIV.
Please follow this link for more information: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi doctor, i had an exposure with a girl i don’t know her status more than 3 months ago, condom was broken, then i went to the drugstore to buy pep but i bought only truvada because then i don’t know clearly about pep, i still took truvada for pep for 28 days, after 21 hours exposure. And on the days 100 after exposure(72 days after finishing only truvada as pep) i got antibodies HIV determine test, it came negative. Is my test conclusive or i have to have a test again after 6 months? I’m so worried because i found that my body not really normal, i don’t know it is because of stress or symptoms of HIV. Thanks for your help!
Hi Tuan, your results are conclusive. You do not have HIV.
The symptoms you have mentioned could be a sign of many things – have you spoken to a doctor?