Question
Should I extend 2:1:1 PrEP if I was late with some doses?
1 February 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PrEP.
Currently I tam aking PrEP on demand 2-1-1, somehow I misread the info. I thought the second dose is 24 hours after sex where actually is 24 hours after first dose. I took the second dose late by 9 hours from the actual schedule. My question is, should I worry about the late schedule on the second dose by 9 hours? Is this affected the efficiency? If yes, what should I do? I took Truvada for the PrEP on demand. Thank you!
I chew the tablet because I really can’t take tablets, is this a problem also?
Thank you so much!
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
While being late for your dosing is not ideal, you would still have some protection. If you have continued with the schedule you won’t need to do anything else.
PrEP dosing also allows for some flexibility. This includes continuing for additional doses on day 5 and 6 is you want to do this. This just means using daily dosing for a few days.
This is a link to a guide about on-demand dosing.
Chewing a tablet is fine. What’s important is that you ingest it. If you are unable to swallow the tablet before chewing, that is not a problem and is safe to do so.
Josh.
Hello Johnny and thanks for getting in touch.
Please don’t worry too much.
Even though you didn’t follow the dosing exactly as prescribed, there still should have been enough drug in your body to protect you.
In the UK we recommend 4th generation testing 6 weeks after exposure for a conclusive result
Hi, looking for advice. I took on demand dosing of truvada with a late second dose. So Friday double dose at 435pm, sex Saturday early morning at 130am, and then the second dose at 130am Sunday morning, 9 hours late. For this late dose I took 2 pills just in case. I took the third dose at 435pm as originally planned and then continued taking the medicine daily after that for 30 days with no further action and then quit taking prep altogether. I am nervous about that 2-1-1 mistake and want to get tested. Will an RNA test at day 39 post exposure and 4th generation test at day 45 post exposure be conclusive even though I took prep for a month? (Stopped taking daily prep at day 30).
Thank you!
Hi Maro, thanks, the latest info on PrEP is here:
https://i-base.info/uk-guide-to-prep-february-2024/
Thanks man.. your reply is a life saver… I was going mad and didn’t know what to do… I took the first two pills .. the I completely forgot to take the second dose. Remember it after 8 hour later
As per the article… I toke a double pill again as a start over for the treatment.