Question
I didn’t double dose for on-demand PrEP…
13 August 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PrEP.
Since I took PrEP on-demand by using the method 1:1:1 instead of 2:1:1 did it give me a bit of protection, or not at all?
I took the first pill around 1 pm, I had sex around 10 pm and then I took 1 pill the day after and another one after two days..
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes, taking the 1 pill instead of 2 is still going to provide you with some protection. It is always better to have something rather than nothing.
There are also other factors of sex that will change the risk.
Is there a reason you only took one pill on the first day?
Josh.
Hi Pablo, regularly taking four or more PrEP pills every week will protect you very well against HIV. Most people who are HIV positive are also on treatment and an undetectable viral load also prevents any risk. Please see this guide for info on PrEP dosing:
https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep-february-2024/
Hello Simon. I take PrEP, but i must confess not everyday. If I have to say an aprox. i would be 4 per week, sometimes it can be more. It turns out that this Saturday I had sex with a guy hiv+. 7 day before, I was decided to take two pills of PrEP to start over, I continued to take the pills every day, i.e. sun, mon, tue, wed, but thur. and friday I forget them. On Saturday, I took one pill again and after one hour after, I had unproductive sex with a guy HIV+ (I found out before had sex). I was the top and my penis was like 5 minutes inside of him. I’m really worry about, becuase I don’t know his real statuts. After I had sex, 1 hour later, I took another pill of PrEP. Do you think I am on risk of getting HIV?
Hi Kalle
If this is just about one time in the past, then you are likely to be fine. This is because four single doses in any seven days still produces good protection.
For the future though, please try to stick to 2:1:1.
This is because there is something special about the double dose that produces better protection.
Hello
I’m just wondering
I take prep on demand, the usual schedule 2-1-1. But I’m curious if I only take one tablet continuously 2 days before sexual interaction, and then continue 2 days efter. Will that provide the same protection as taking 2 tablets before sex?
So instead of 2-1-1
You take 1-1-1-1
Best regards