Question
Can I stop PEP early?
3 February 2022. Related: Adherence, All topics, PEP/PEPSE, Stopping treatment.
Hello, I am currently on a 28 day course of PEP. I am curious as to if I can stop early to keep a few pills of each, for if this ever happens again (it was hard and took FOREVER to get this prescription). I was thinking of either stopping at day 21 or day 25. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Answer
Hi Leo , how are you doing?
Stopping PEP early might reduce how effective it is at working. As such it would not be recommended to do what you are suggesting, especially at day 21. Stopping at day 26, like as suggested in this post is not likely to cause harm and does have some benefit.
Have you considered PrEP? On-demand dosing does not require regular medication and when used can prevent need for PEP. This is a link to using on-demand PrEP.
Josh.
Hi Marcaveli, when your partner tested positive did they start treatment?
If your partner did start treatment, after the initial course of PEP it is likely there would be no further risk to yourself. Treatment can suppress HIV so much that it is impossible to pass on HIV via sex even without a condom.
There are also other factors that change transmission risk inc. type of sex, other infections, genetics, etc…More information about transmission can be found here: https://i-base.info/guides/testing
Hi my partner tested positive year ago and this year we went to the doctor together and they advised me to take PEP after testing Negative but I only took the first treatment and I never went back to take another one but I did test since is 3 months now and I stil tested negative.
So I am asking the aftermath of what I did.
Hi T, as your partner had tested 2 months ago it is unlikely they are in a window period (unless they have had other partners since).
This is a low risk exposure and you can consider stopping PEP after speaking with your doctor.
More information about PEP can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/pep-faq
she tested two months ago and the results were negative too
Hi T, how far into your course of PEP are you?
As you have both tested negative the risk of HIV transmission is low to zero. It is possible that either yourself or your partner is in a ‘window’ period depending on last risky exposure though this is a rare event.
Any low risk exposure is not a case for using PEP. Before stopping please speak with your prescribing doctor and discuss these test results with them.
Hi , i am on pep but both of our Hiv rapid test results came out negative, should i stop or continue