Q and A

Question

Are cold symptoms a side effect of PEP?

8 December 2022. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.

Hello,

I was holidaying in Thailand, my condom broke just after 1 min while having anal sex with CSW (Lady Boy in Thailand). Another person is unsure about their HIV status. I started PEP within 48 hrs after exposure. I am on 12th Day of PEP.

From Day 6 I started having bad sore throat and Day 9 got terrible cough as well. I started taking medicines to subside sore throat and cough, felling little better now. I got no fever and rash on body.

Is it a side effect of PEP. I am on Kocitaf ( 50mg Dolutegravir , 200mg Emtricitabine , 25mg Tenofovir alafemanide fumarate )

Answer

Answer: Josh Peasegood

Hi, how are you doing?

What you have described is more likely caused by an infection e.g., cold or flu. These are not common side effects of PEP which are explained here:
https://i-base.info/qa/18961

I am sorry but it is not clear. Do you have a rash over your body? If you do this is a potential side effect and you should speak to a doctor about it.

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

Josh.

12 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    Hi Thomas, most guidelines only recommend PEP up to 48 hours. Although UK guidelines still recommend it can be taken up to 72 hours after, this is mainly historical to psychologically try to reduce people from worrying if they are stressed, for example after an assault.

  2. Thomas •

    How strict is the 72-hour window for taking PEP? If, for example, you started it 75 or 76 hours after exposure, could it still be effective?

  3. Josh Peasegood •

    HI Jane, no this does not PEP has failed. A fever alone does not suggest PEP failure and while on PEP symptoms of HIV would not be experienced even has PEP has failed or not.

    PEP does not protect you from other common infections like the flu or covid. As you started PEP so soon it makes, HIV a very unlikely cause for your current symptoms and does not warrant you being worried about failure.

    For more information about PEP please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  4. Jane •

    Hi I had sex on the 8th January this year and i took pep the same day but for 14 days like I was given. But on the 29th i have fever. Please help to explain to me if it failed thank you

  5. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Erick, for information about PEP please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  6. ERICK •

    I am on PEP day 9 but i have muscle aches, joint pain and dry cough, what does it mean?

  7. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Andile, please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq

  8. Andile •

    Hi I had sex without condom and I woke up in the morning went to the doctor to get pep, on that day i started taking pep drug and I skipped 2 consecutive days…and now I feel dizzy and hard cough and cold but no rash

  9. Josh Peasegood •

    Hi Rick, good to hear that there is no rash. As you only have the sore throat and cough, this is more suggestive of a cold/flu infection rather than HIV.

  10. Rick •

    Thanks Josh for your reply.

    I don’t have fever and rash on body.

    Only sore throat and cough.