Question
I have started PEP and want to know if I will be okay?
28 November 2010. Related: PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.
I had sex with a transexual man. I was on top and without me realizing the condom had ruptured, I washed myself and went home. But I did not feel comfortable. So I sent a text asking the man I had just had sex with if he was HIV positive, to which he answered, yes. I freaked out and went inmediately to the internet and did some research. I read about PEP, so the next morning I went to the clinic and I was placed on – Truvada 200 mg, Norvir 100 mg and Reyataz 300 mg. This was 36 hours after the incident.
I have had no side effects. But for the last two days, I have felt as if I have some fever. I tested my temperature and it is within the normal parameters of 98.2 and 98.7. Please tell me do I have a shot to be well? The person I had sex with told me that his viral count is below 40. Please help.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
I am sorry to know that you are distressed. What is important is that you have taken the right steps to giving yourself a chance of remaining  uninfected. PEP is effective the earlier that you take it and should be taken within 72 hours of being exposed to HIV. You started PEP within that time frame.
Additionally, as the person who you had sex with is on treatment with an undetectable viral load, then your chances of an HIV infection are much more reduced than if that person was not on treatment.
If you take the PEP as prescribed this will reduce the small chance that you were exposed to HIV.
Symptoms do not occur this soon after an exposure.
Good luck.
Hi James, what combination of PEP are you on? and for how long have you been having these symptoms? While this could be anxiety it could be something else. Are you able to speak to a doctor about your symptoms?
Hi, I have been taking pep for a month, I started 24 hours after exposure, I don’t know if it’s anxiety, but my skin burns, muscles feel like jelly.
I needs advise
Hi Gabriel, how many times you take PEP in a day is determined by the strength of the medication, the specific PEP combination, and the type of exposure. If you have been prescribed once daily you should stick with this instruction. As these are possible side effects of PEP are you able to speak with a doctor before your course of PEP ends?
I’m on my 21st day under pep vaccine,I was given a one day one dose pep vaccine but I see on media people are taking two doses per day.i have one itchy rash on my leg next to the knee ,an itching anus and sometimes an headache,,am I safe really?
Hi Maria, as you are taking PEP you will need to wait 6 weeks after finishing PEP to be sure of your status. A rash is a potential side effect of PEP. As with any side effect, it is best to discuss this with your doctor.
I started taking pep few weeks ago and I tested negative. But a have rash
Hello please I started my pep treatment 2days ago after exposure and I was given one drug, I saw online that pep medication is more than one drug. Please I want to know if I am doing the right thing
Hi Pattson, have you tested recently for HIV? A month after PEP, a test would be very likely to say if you were HIV positive or negative. There are a lot of causes of a rash. You can discuss these concerns with a doctor. Has the ointment been working?
I finished my pep treatment about a month ago and now I’m having rash, the doctor just gave me an ointment and told me to wash my facr
Hi, PEP only works for the exposure it was taken for and does not work prophylactically. If this was a high risk exposure you would be required to start a new course of PEP for 28 days.