Question
Will PEP still work if I am not taking it strictly every 24 hours?
16 May 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
I started my 28-day PEP course 4 days ago after having oral sex with a girl and later noticed that my gum was potentially bleeding while giving the oral sex. The third day of taking PEP I was taking the pill late for 1 hour (taking it at 12:30 vs. my usual time of 11:30). The fourth day I was late for another one hour (taking it at 13:30). Today I took the pill again at 12:30 because I felt like taking it at my usual time of 11:30 would have been too soon since the last dose (13:30). Will PEP still work effectively for me? Thank you so much.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes PEP will still work effectively for you.
PEP needs to be taken regularly every 24 hours for it to work. But PEP does remain in the body longer than 24 hours. For this reason there is some leeway for being late or early with a dose by an hour.
Though it is best to avoid this to ensure you are maintaining a suitable level of PEP within the body. Is 11.30 still suitable for you or is it better moving your regular time to 12.30? To help remember it may be suitable to set an alarm each day to prompt you to take PEP.
Josh.
Hi Linda, how soon after your exposure did you start PEP?
After 2 days it is unlikely that PEP will remain as effective however if you are more comfortable in continuing to take it there is no problem.
Hallow my name is Linda..I took pep for 3 days and than along the way I forgot to take them for two days ..can I stil continue
Hi Ema, no you have not reduced how effective PEP is. As you had staggered how you changed the time of dosing, there is no risk of PEP being less effective. As you had started PEP so soon you have ensured that it will be as effective as possible.
Please see here for more information about PEP: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Thanks for being there.
I’ve been trying to bring my pep time to as early as possible and have been reducing it by 1hr, 30 mins, 15 mins, 10 mins earlier but never late . Please haven’t I reduce its effectiveness now cos I had a single swollen node below the chick bone and a rash on neck and little on shoulder blade which have cleared in a week. Have I compromised the effectiveness of the pep please . The exposure was high risk cos I tested her myself and started medication in less than one hour
Hi Fred, while on PEP it is recommended that you abstain from sex until you are able to confirm your HIV status.
Having sex while on PEP does not carry a risk for transmission as PEP will suppress any HIV, however in the time between finishing the course and testing the risk is unknown. If you do choose to have sex in this time it is advised to use a condom.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
If I am married and I did sex out and I am on pep. Am I supposed to have sex with my wife or I have to complete my dose first
Hi Sika, it is still advised to continue the course of PEP even with multiple missed doses.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I have been taking PEP strictly for 10 days then defaulted for two days, Do I continue with PEP or stop