Question
Does PEP have side effects?
5 February 2018. Related: All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Side effects.
Hello,
I am confused with PEP treatment, specifically about the side effects.
From sexual health charities I hear that PEP treatment can cause occasional side effects which may or may not go over the 28 days treatment. Another one (THT) says that the side effects are extreme and about 1 in 5 people on PEP stop taking it as a result.
The sexual health nurse said that side effects on PEP are very common and are severe.
I’ve heard from 3 people who have had PEP and they said that they didn’t get any side effects.
What’s the official line on PEP and side effects? I thought that PEP usually uses recommended triple therapy, using drugs that are well tolerated. Is the conflicting information I am receiving due to outdated data or current data?
Thank you for any clarity you provide.
Answer
All meds have some risk of side effects, but for PEP this risk is usually low. If side effects do occur, they are usually mild.
This depends on the meds used in the PEP combination.
In the UK in 2018, the PEP combination is usually raltegravir plus a combined pill with tenofovir DF/emtricitabine, which generally causes very few side effects, if any.
Even general side effects like nausea, diarrhoea and tiredness are not experienced by most people.
If mild side effects occur, they usually get easier after the first week or two as your body adjusts.
PEP that contains a drug called efavirenz is not recommended in the UK, though is used in some countries where there is less choice for HIV drugs. Efavirenz has a higher risk of side effects including mood changes and vivid dreams.
Discontinuation rates for PEP are often not very good. Studies of health workers who are exposed with a needle-stick injury report many people stop before the full month of treatment.
Note: This answer was updated in February 2018 from a question first posted online in June 2009.
Hi Jean,
Sorry, but pleased don’t be scared. 95% of HIV infections are picked up after 28 days of finishing PEP. The other 5% may take up to three months from finishing PEP.
The window periods are the same as an exposure without PEP, but taking PEP may delay infection.
thanks your Roy for your reply
you tell me that i have to wait another month to be sure that i am negative??
i was thinking that three month after an exposure are sufficient but you tell that is not sufficient i have to wait another month. i am so scared.
i have to wait 3 month after pep or three month after exposure???
thank you Roy for your help
Hi Jean,
Sorry, we are not doctors at i-Base. But, after a course of PEP you need to wait 28 days before testing for HIV. This is because PEP can delay infection. This test can detect 95% of HIV infections if PEP hasn’t worked.
But there is a three month window period after finishing PEP for the confirmatory result to detect more than 99.9% of infections.
Hi Doctor
i want to ask few question.
i was finish pep two month ago now i test negative.
it was 3 month after exposure i test negative.
1. should i feel free right now it was 92 days after exposure?
2. or should i test again?
thx
Hi Umar,
Sorry, I’m not sure about your question. But if your penis still hurts please see a doctor about it.
I have sex”with a sex worker with a condom after finished my pennies is ached me and without condom break please help me
Hi Ireen,
It’s important that your doctor looks at your rash. Sometimes people can react to the drugs in PEP. What drugs are you taking in your PEP?
However, please ask the doctor to have a look at the bites.
i was at work after alittle of exposed blood splashed into my eye i was scared i went to the doctor he told me to have an hiv test which i had i came out negative,they had to put me on PEP and its now 2weeks on it i woke up this morning with things like mosquito bites on my body can it be a side effect of pep?
Hi Kit,
I’ll try to answer your numbered points:
1. Yes, the decision to take any treatment should be shared by the individual and the doctor.
2. If you consider that you were at risk it’s a good idea to finish PEP. But you can ask the doctor if the symptoms are side effects.
3. Truvada and Isentress is a safe and effective long-time treatment for HIV. It is also used for 28 days as PEP.
4. Unfortunately, it’s not clear how this probability could be calculated. Please see this guide to risks for transmission.
Hi,
I had sex recently with a guy from an app. It was anal sex with condom but unfortunately, it break. No ejaculation inside. Im the insertive guy. My first time to do anal. We stopped and he checked the condom. I got scared. He said that he is clean.But before that he said he like to have sex with no condom this worry me but I insist then condom break.
Anyways, regardless of his status or how promiscious he is or not. I think what really matter now is, to identify or asses my level of risk. So after that incident, I decided to go to ER since it happened midnight, the doctor gave option to take PEP or not, so he prescribed and gave me 1 day of PEP. The nurse also gave me a injection of antibiotic. The nurse said better take it since it is effective but not guarantee and never take a chance. Side effects or HIV.
In short, I took the bullet to take the PEP coz I was not sure how to react. Not sure if the ER doctor is experience with HIV. He prescribed Truvada 200/300 and Isentress.
I’m on my 8th day of medications and 20 days to go. However, I developed back pain and little cough. I’m not sure if it from trhe drug side effects or anxiety. I went to ER and they asked for Chest XRay not sure how it was relevant with side effects.
My questions:
1) What is my risk? The doctor gave PEP as less concern than the antibiotic with STI. Is it normal for doctor to have the patient to decide to take PEP or not? I mean to consider or not or recommend?
2) Should I finish my PEP even though I have side effects like dizziness, fatigue(tiredness), Back pain upper part and headaches? Its been tolerable lately but back pain upper part in he middle build up some tightness. Is it possible that I dont have enough rest since there are times I cant sleep insomia.
3) Is Truvada and Issentress Safe and will it have long term side effects?
4) What would be the probability my test result be negative or positive after taking pep complete and if stopping the PeP?
Appreciate your insight. I try to be rational.