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.
Hello Michael and thanks for the question.
I can’t find any known interactions with Lauric acid and PEP.
If you are unsure, then yes, you could resume use after finishing PEP or discuss this with a pharmacist
Hello Dr. I take monolaurin (Lauric acid from coconut oil) for herpes control, candida, gut health, and immune system boosting support. Will this affect my treatment just started on PEP. Might this be an interaction? I don’t want to take anything that could risk hurting the effectiveness of my PEP treatment. Perhaps I should consider stopping the Monolaurin supplement until after the 28 day course? Thank you
Hello Gabriel and thanks for getting in touch.
The PEP medication is given to you to prevent HIV. You should take them for a month as prescribed.
You can read more here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
The potassium tablets were given to you because there was an imbalance in your bloods.
The doctor should have told you how much to take and for how long.
They are not supposed to be used long term.
I don’t quite understand why you took vitamin C.
It doesn’t prevent something and you don’t need it unless you have a deficiency.
Your alcohol levels were high in the blood results.
My guess is that you were probably out that night drinking.
You should take your medication as your doctor prescribed them.
The PEP will prevent an HIV infection.
Hi,I was exposed 34 hours ago,I have taken two pills of pep and two tables of 1000mg of vitamin C. After a series of test like LFT and other test to know if my body can take pep, my test result shows that my potassium is very low and the alcoholic level is high in my body. I was given Potassium Chloride 600mg. Please advise me what to take and what not to take among this drugs, because am afraid of contacting any virus.
Hello Royston and thank you for the message.
It depends what medication you were using for PEP.
Metals interact with integrase inhibitors like dolutegravir, bictegravir or raltegravir.
However, a two drug regimen is given in some countries as PEP.
So there is a good chance your PEP regimen worked.
To know for sure you need to get tested 4-6 weeks after stopping PEP.
You can learn more here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi,
I started taking PEP in August, however, throughout that course I regularly took multivitamins (calcium, magnesium and zinc). I took these at the same time as the PEP.
How likely has this not affected my PEP?
Thanks
Hello William and thank you for contacting us.
You said you took some medication that helped for a couple of weeks: what medication was that?
Good day, I recently finished taking PEP (end of Aug 2024). I did HIV test a week after the result was negative. I had body pains but I was malaria negative as well. When I took some drugs they relieved me for like 2weeks. Now my body pains are back, mostly my legs and arms.
I don’t feel weak nor fatigue. Could this mean that the PEP did not work?
I Issac, This link has more info on PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
It is not affect by the other pills.
Hi I have been taking fertility pills every morning around 07:00 then continue drinking PEP at13:00
It’s my second day drinking it that way
Will the PEP still be effectiveness?