Question
Can Biktarvy be used as PEP?
22 July 2023. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
I was just wondering if Biktarvy is legit as a PEP medication? I was recently on holiday in France and after potential risk went to the E.D and they offered me Biktarvy. I’m worried now because it is not the regime used in many other countries and my clinic back home in Ireland have said that it should not be used as PEP. Can anyone advise please?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
In most countries Biktarvy is not a recommended treatment to be used as PEP.
This is not to say that it won’t work. Instead that there have been few studies specifically about Biktarvy as PEP.
A recent study has shown that it does work and offeres fewer side effects than approved PEP however these are early stages of testing.
In most cases being on a regimen used to treat HIV will work to prevent PEP. The difference is that it does not have the same confirmed effectiveness.
Has your clinic in Ireland suggested remaining on Biktarvy or to switch midway through the course?
Josh.
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