Question
I missed a dose of PEP.
2 January 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE.
Hi. I am taking PEP and I forgot to take my pill at the exact time I always take it. I remembered in 8 hrs and took the pill. Can I continue to take my pill the exact time I always take it? And does this reduce my chances of not getting HIV? Please help.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
Yes you can continue to take PEP at the usual time you do.
Although it is better to not miss any meds, if you do forget once or twice, this is unlikely to make much difference. Especially if these are doses towards the end of the month.
While it is not advised, missing a dose by a few hours is unlikely to cause a problem. PEP remains in the body for more than 24 hours. As you remembered tot take PEP, the levels within your body would have stayed at a biologically significant level.
If you have another question please ask,
Josh.
Hi Peter, no you do not need to be taking PEP at the new time for 30 days. Your course is now complete and you can stop.
Missing one dose of PEP is not going to impact how effective the course of your treatment is.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I have e been taking PEP exactly at 23:23 hrs. I took it for 11 days consistently then on the twelfth day I misplaced my PEP tablets making me to miss my ysual dose at 23:23hrs. After 17 hours of missing I got another dose and now took at 15:56hrs(17hrs after missing on the usual time). I ha e continued taking PEP since then at 15:56hrs now for a combined number of times 30 including the first 11 days. Am I at risk of stopping it after 30 tablets or do I continue taking the new dose for 30 days without counting the first 11 tablets? Thank u
Hi Steve, everything we know about PEP is here:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
I had sex with someone and I immediately got scared and took PEP within 10hours, I drank it for 7 days while asking the person to test but she refused telling me she knows she doesn’t have HIV, I then didn’t take PEP on the 8th day and had raw sex again 9th day because I gained ( so ibasically skipped 2 days), then on the 10th day she tested and she was positive, I immediately returned to PEP. Please tell me if I’m safe and how effective, im not sure what to think don’t know how long does it take for PEP to kill the virus in the body, is 7 days enough or not. Thank you.
Hi Koti, the PEP you took 2 days prior will not protect you from further exposures 2 days later.
After 24 hours PEP does not remain effective in the body and if this was a high risk exposure you will need to restart PEP.
After 28 days of Pep period is completed, then on the 30th day you get exposed again
Does the pep you took on the 28th days still work on the body to protect possible exposure???
Hi Normal, there is no risk to your partner. For more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing