Question

Is PEP going to work if I took it 72 hours after exposure?

21 April 2022. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.

Is PEP going to work if I took it 72 hours after exposure?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Most guidelines recommend that PEP needs to be used within 48 hours.

UK guidelines say that PEP can be taken up to 72 hours after sex where there is a risk of HIV. It is unlikely to work after this though.

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

13 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    Hi Jones, you wouldn’t have been prescribed PEP in the UK. It might help you spychologically, which is why PEP s often given. Please see link5 for more info on PEP including timing:
    https://i-base.info/qa/11844

  2. Jones •

    I started taking PEP 73hours and 30 minutes later after possible exposure will it still be useful?

  3. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Younes, after 72 hours there is no evidence to suggest that taking PEP will be effective. Even though 75 hours is only 3 hours after the cut off, there is no evidence suggesting that there will be benefit to taking a course of PEP.