Question
Will multivitamins risk PEP not working?
1 April 2023. Related: All topics, Drug interactions.
I’ve been using multivitamins for years, now I’m on PEP and I’ve suspended its use since day 2 of PEP (day 1 I ingested the multivitamin 8-10h before, before I had my high risk exposure).
The fact that I used them for years and used them on day 1 can compromise the efficacy of my PEP treatment? I’m desperate!
My PEP regimen is Dolutegravir, Lamivudine and Tenofovir.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Having been taking multivitamins for years it will not risk reducing how effective PEP is.
As on the first day your multivitamins were taken 10 hours before, there is no risk of interaction.
You can continue taking multivitamins for the duration of PEP. Taking them at the opposite end of the day to when you take PEP will prevent any risk of interaction.
This means PEP will remain effective.
Josh.
Hi Hanif, there will be no issues. Magnesium will only interact with PEP if you take it 6 hours before (or less) or up to 2 hours after PEP.
12/13 hours apart is more than enough time to prevent any risk of transmission.
I have been taking multivitamins which include Magnesium while taking PEP. However, I take them 12 to 13 hours apart. I am currently on day 16 of PEP. Will there be any issues?
Hi Scared, the concentrations of the minerals/vitamins in Powerade are not high enough to interfere with your treatment. You have done everything right.
Help I am so scared. I believe someone may have stuck me with a needle that I know and I know their status immediately start a PEP the next day and I was told do not take any vitamin C and iron and I was doing fertility treatment, so I stopped taking it Only to realize every day since I started prep I have been drinking Powerade and then backing the bottle clearly says calcium iron and vitamin c over 20% and I can’t stop crying cause I thought I was doing it right I love Powerade so much I only realized it this Morning after o took my pills I happen to look at bottle
Hi Timmy
Please see this link that answers your questions about PEP.
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Small changes in how you take meds don’t make a lot of difference. PEP works even if you are not feeling good mentally or physically – but please read the link for details.
i was taking multivitamins that contain some calcium and magnesium while on pep, 0but moslty not in the same time, mostly separated about 2h. I might have taken it together 2 or 3 times. Will it make a big difference that pep original effectiveness?
Will poor physical and mental conditions affect the efficacy of the medicine?
Hi Somebody, while there is a small risk of interaction. A single day of taking them together is unlikely to have any effect on how well PEP works.
What if i took multivitamin with pep together at the second day ?