Question
Will taking PrEP late work with on demand dosing?
27 April 2020. Related: All topics, PrEP.
Hi, I take PrEP with on demand dosing and after having sex after my first double dose i remembered my first dose post sex on time. However, my second dose was 5h late and 3rd dose was 5h late too. Will this affect my level of protection and should i continue taking it 5h late every day?
Answer
Hi
Thanks for your question. The easy answer is that you will probably be fine.
Both the drugs in PrEP stay in your body to allow for a few hours being late with dosing.
It is better to try to take them at the right time.
The after sex doses with on demand dosing only need to be taken 24 hours and 48 hours after the first double dose. Taking an extra dose for a third day will not do any harm though.
If you are still having sex every day though, then continue taking PrEP until 24 and 48 hours after the last time you had sex.
More information on real life examples for on demand dosing.
Hi Monke, thanks, please don’t worry about this. Drugs levels from the double dose are very good and will cover the next dose being a little bit earlier or later. This will not have increased your risk. If you are ever worried about this, you can always take an additional dose the following gay – ie 2:1:1:1 – but it isn’t needed. I also replied to your email :)
I am writing to ask whether my early intake of the first dose (two pills) of on-demand PrEP should be of any concern. My schedule was as follows:
April 27, 9pm: first two pills of PrEP
April 28, 10pm: sex without a condom
April 28, 11pm: one pill
April 29, 9pm: one pill
I took the first two pills 25 hours before sex, which is one hour earlier than recommended. The follow-up dose on April 28 was taken about two hours later than the recommended 24-hour interval.
I understand that taking it within a couple of hours’ delay is generally acceptable, but I am concerned about having taken the initial dose one hour earlier than recommended.
I may be overthinking this, but I am very worried and anxious now.
Hi Charles. PrEP can still help, especially if you started soon after having sex. Some countries only use 3-day PEP, including Australia, although most guidelines say that 2 =-drug PEP is beeter.
Hello I have used prep instead of pep after sex does it help me to avoid hiv