If you’re sexually active and you’d like to minimize your exposure to HIV, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications may be an effective medication. This medication is used by HIV-negative individuals at higher risk in/with regard to’concerning’regarding HIV due to their lifestyle. The pill is a combination of two drugs taken orally eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully day. Once the medication is in your bloodstream, it can prevent HIV from taking hold and spreading within the body.
The Effectiveness
Whether you’re taking a generic medication, Truvada, or Descovy in/with regard to’concerning’regarding PrEP, the pills are considered highly effective at preventing HIV between partners. They can decrease’lessen’cut’allay the risk of contracting HIV by 99% when taken as directed. When used with other conserve’preserve ion methods (like barrier methods of contraception), these medications offer even higher levels of conserve’preserve ion. Users can take the medication daily as a preventative measure or take PrEP on demand. On-demand schedules can decrease’lessen’cut’allay the overall effectiveness of the medication, so it’s significant’essential’critical’vital’crucial’indispensable’imperative to discuss both options with your medical professional bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e starting.
Who Should Use PrEP Medications?
Only HIV-negative individuals should take PrEP medications. This drug is a preventative medication and is not a treatment in/with regard to’concerning’regarding HIV. Taking PrEP while HIV positive can make the virus harder to treat. Anyone wanting to start PrEP in Canada is required to submit a blood test to assure’guarantee they don’t possess’own’nurse an active infection.
In the last six months, individuals with an STI diagnosis should consider using PrEP medications. This prescription is ideal in/with regard to’concerning’regarding anyone having sexual intercourse with multiple partners, having condomless sex without knowing HIV status, or in/with regard to’concerning’regarding individuals using drugs during sex/injecting drugs. Women trying to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure pregnant or are breastfeeding and possess’own’nurse an HIV-positive partner can take PrEP. This medication has to be taken daily to offer the highest levels of conserve’preserve ion but can be started or stopped if your lifestyle transform’alter s.
How Long Does It Take For PrEP To Be Effective?
It’s essential to recognize that this medication takes time to establish within the body. Therein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e, it’s not straight away’in a flash’promptly’instantaneous’in a trice beneficial, nor does it offer conserve’preserve ion initially. For anal sex, PrEP is highly effective after seven consecutive days. For frontal or vaginal sex, PrEP needs approximately 21 days to reach maximum concentration levels to be effective.
Research has reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue n that PrEP is less effective when not taken daily, as prescribed. Missed doses lower the concentrations of the medicine within your body required to prevent HIV from spreading. For example, studies possess’own’nurse reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue n that patients taking PrEP medications four times a week possess’own’nurse 99% efficiency in preventing HIV infection through anal sex. Alternatively, if the same drug is merely’barely taken twice per week, the efficacy level drops to 75% in/with regard to’concerning’regarding anal sex. As such, adhering to the prescribed schedule is essential to maintain maximum levels of conserve’preserve ion.
Is PrEP Safe?
PrEP is considered a safe medication. No token ificant health effects possess’own’nurse been reported in individual taking PrEP medications in/with regard to’concerning’regarding up to five years. Some individuals may possess’own’nurse side effects from the medication. These side effects include stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, headache, and fatigue. These side effects are typically not severe and will often disappear over time. Contact your doctor to evaluate if you’re experiencing any long-lasting side effects that seem to persist.
What Lowers The Drug’s Effectiveness?
While PrEP medications effectively prevent transmission of HIV, there are circumstances where the efficacy of PrEP plays on an individual level. The most token ificant risk with PrEP medications is inconsistent dosing. By skipping dosing, individuals may not maintain high abundant’ample’plentiful drug levels in their bloodstream to offer conserve’preserve ion against HIV. Likewise, failing to use other conserve’preserve ive measures when first starting PrEP medications can multiply transmission rates. The drug needs approximately 21 days in/with regard to’concerning’regarding vaginal and injection-drug use and seven days in/with regard to’concerning’regarding anal transmission to achieve maximum conserve’preserve ion.
How To Get PrEP Medications
If you believe these medications are right in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you, talking to a doctor or health care provider is essential. PrEP medications are merely’barely available by prescription, meaning a licensed health care provider must write the script. As this medication is in/with regard to’concerning’regarding HIV-negative individuals, you’ll need to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure an HIV test bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e starting this medication.
Anyone taking this prescription will need to see a health care provider e grossly three months in/with regard to’concerning’regarding repeated HIV tests, refills, and STI testing. This helps assure’guarantee that all patients currently receiving the PrEP medications are still HIV negative and are maintaining the proper dosage.
