Question
Starting PEP at 90 hours?
1 June 2023. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Hi, I started PEP about 90 hours post exposure, the doctor said there could still be some level of efficacy as we were quite close to the 72 hour window. Is that true?
Also I missed one of my PEP doses by 7 hours but quickly took it once I realised. What is the impact on my treatment?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
While it is possible that PEP could still have some efficacy, starting PEP 18 hours after the recommended is window is still quite a lot. It is not possible to say how effective will be.
How risky was your potential exposure?
How far into your course are you? and on what day were you late with PEP?
Please see this link for more information about PEP:
Josh.
Hi Les, as this was protected sex there is no risk of transmission. You did not require PEP and the symptoms you have been experiencing are not being caused by HIV.
Please see here for more information about testing and transmission:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Hi
I had protected sex with someone who did not want to disclose her status. The following day, I took PEP, and I finished PEP, but I failed to take it at the same time. On day 21, I started feeling down; I had fatigue, a headache that disappeared after three days and a sore throat that would come and go. After four days, I started panicking, and I was sweating and lost weight. Other symptoms began appearing, such as mouth sores, white tongue, coughing, and shortness of breath. I managed to complete PEP, but I was always thinking about this and searching on the internet. Please help. Does this mean that PEP failed?
Hi Larry, as you have started PEP within 72 hours of exposure it will still be effective.
Please see here for more information about PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi I had sex un protected sex on 1st May at around midnight but on the 2nd I realised I had sustained some injuries on my penis, so I told the woman with whom I had sexual intercourse to test, but she refused. So on the third day I started PEP at around 6pm before the 72 hours had elapsed – can it be effective or not?
Dear W, pls see this link for info on PEP:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Please talk to a doctor about PrEP. It will not help with trust issues but it will let you control your risk of HIV.
This link has more info about PrEP for women:
https://i-base.info/prep-for-women
Hi Josh, I have been on PEP for 16 days now.
I was on PEP because I don’t trust my boyfriend.
We went for a test and he was negative.
Should I continue my PEP?
Hi Victoria, how is your boyfriend doing? Does he have access to treatment and care? I also answered your email about this.
Hi, I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend. I did an oral test on him 15 mins after and found out he was positive.
We rushed to the hospital and did a confirmation test for both of us. I came out negative while he was positive.
I took PEP about 4 hours after the sex. Prior before now I had sex with him about 6 weeks before this incident and I did a test 7 weeks before this and came out negative. I am scared of already being infected and want to know if the PEP will work.