How much does PrEP protect you from HIV?

How much does PrEP protect you from HIV?

PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed. Although there is less information about how effective PrEP is among people who inject drugs, we do know that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV by at least 74% when taken as prescribed.

Can PrEP get rid of HIV?

PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99%. PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74%.

Can I get infected with HIV while on PrEP?

It's really unlikely you'll get HIV if you're using PrEP consistently. But if you do happen to get HIV while using PrEP, it's important for your health to stop using PrEP right away. PrEP is not a treatment for HIV — in fact, taking PrEP when you have HIV can actually make the virus harder to treat.

Will PrEP still protect me from HIV even if I don't take it every day?

PrEP is much less effective if you do not take it consistently. PrEP does not protect against other STDs, so you should still use latex condoms every time you have sex.

Is PrEP and PEP the same drug?

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis and PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. Prophylaxis means “treatment or actions taken to prevent a disease.” PrEP is a treatment plan to prevent HIV before a person is exposed while PEP is a treatment plan for after a person is exposed.

Is PrEP safer than condoms?

With the low number of HIV cases among people actively taking PrEP we are now talking about greater than 99 percent effectiveness, in other words, the pill is more effective at preventing HIV than condoms.

How long does PrEP last in your system?

Truvada stays in your system for about a week after you stop taking it. The main ingredient in Truvada, the HIV prophylaxis drug, typically has a half-life of more than six days, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Does PrEP work after 72 hours?

Ideally PEP should begin within an hour of possible infection and no longer than 72 hours after exposure, whereas PrEP should be taken during (before and after) the time high-risk exposure may take place. 7. Who is PrEP meant for?

Does PrEP work straight away?

Scientists do not yet have an answer on how long it takes PrEP to become fully effective after you start taking it. Some studies suggest that if you take PrEP every day, it reaches its maximum protection in blood at 20 days, in rectal tissue at about 7 days, and in vaginal tissues at about 20 days.

Do you have to take PrEP forever?

It isn't a pill you have to take forever. You get to decide when to start and stop PrEP. Just remember that if you don't take it regularly, you aren't as safe. Once you've started taking PrEP, you should stay on it for at least a month after you were last exposed to HIV.