Question
Using second course of PEP – perhaps change your doctor…
18 December 2023. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
I finished PEP and got exposed again 2 weeks after.
I then started to take a new course of PEP again and during the first week since beginning the course I have experienced a flu like illness.
Does this mean i have caught HIV?
Answer
Hi there
The second course of PEP should NOT have been prescribed.
This is not needed – and it is not recommended in any guidelies.
Your doctor should not have done this.
Other info on PEP is at this link:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Hi Unknown, as you used a condom with this second exposure and it did not break you do not need to be on PEP.
You can confirm your own status 6 weeks after the last dose of the first course of PEP. This will be done with a 4th gen test.
For more information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
At the date 13-11-23 i was expossed unknown person condom is broke very light expossure after 4 hours i started pep medicine, after 40 days the unknown person tested with tridot that is come to negative , now my pep is completed 11-12-23, at the date of 20-12-23 i was participate protection sex used to single condom, the protection is not broke, not leaked , due to my panic situation i started pep again after 5 hours it is good or bad icant understand
Hi Anonym, one course of PEP is used for one exposure. A second course of PEP can be given after a second exposure when you are not already taking PEP.
You would not start a 2nd course of PEP for the same exposure after already completeing a course 20 weeks ago.
For more information please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
So is PEP is one-time option only? Why PEP is not needed after exposure but two weeks after finishing a 28-days PEP? Would it have been needed 10 weeks or 20 weeks after finishing a 28-days PEP? Nothing about this is said on the indicated link.