Question
Is Didivir a PrEP or PEP?
26 December 2023. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Is Didivir a PrEP or PEP? Cause I slept with my partner without protection and he tested hiv positive and I was negative, I went to the pharmacy within 24hrs and they gave me Didivir they said it works for both and now am on the 8th day of Didivir
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Didivir can be used as both.
Didivir is a 2 drug combination containing emtricitabine and tenofivir.
These 2 drugs are used as the backbone of PEP.
PEP is often recommended to be a combination fo 3 drugs. Usually those found in Didivir and a third. However this is not required for it to still work – the evidence for recommending a third drug is low and is usually offered for completion rather than increasing the effectiveness of PEP.
Josh.
Hi Mdu, yes you can switch from PrEP to PEP. PrEP contains similar drugs to PEP and can be effective in preventing transmission. It will not become less effective by switching treatment at day 5.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
Mdu Khoza
Hi
Day-1 of exposure doctor gave PREP as they did not have PEP. Now it’s day-5 they have PEP delivered.
Can i switch from Prep to PEP at this time?
Since PEP must be taken within 72hrs, can this transition have good benefits in blocking the infection considering i have been on PREP within 24hrs?
Last question, what will happen if on day-5 current PREP has already failed to block infection then i switch to PEP while already infected?
Thanks