[Question #9736] HIV EXPOSURE ON PEP(17TH DAY EXPOSURE/PEP)

29 months ago

Does PEP protect you from HIV while you are taking it for 17 days? I had sex on the 17th day(with another escort from canada. Will it protect me from HIV? What do I do now?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

29 months ago

Taking PEP (i.e. after a possible exposure) is exactly the same as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for a new exposure. Your PEP drugs are 100% protection against HIV if exposed while taking them.

"What do I do now?" First, don't worry about this. Second, stop having sex at all until you complete PEP and have had the follow-up blood tests recommended by the doctor or clinic treating you. Third, if you don't follow that advice, don't come back here again looking for advice about it!

HHH, MD

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29 months ago

Thanks for the reply! Would I finish the 30 day course of PEP and than just start PREP? Or are you saying finish the 30 day of course of PEP+ 17 more days of PEP? Both times were with condoms that did not break just very anxious about this stuff and yes I am done now.

What do you mean its the same as PrEP for new exposure?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

29 months ago

Follow the advice of the clinic or doctor who prescribed PEP. Given your nearly zero risk sexual lifestyle, I would not recommend PrEP. (But then I would not have recommended PEP either.) Seems to me it makes most sense to finish your current PEP regimen then stop all anti-HIV treatment; but as I said, follow the advice of your doctors.

PEP and PrEP use exactly the same drugs. The differences are only in timing and duration of treatment.

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29 months ago

Hi,

I get they're meant for different purposes but from my understanding they both incorporate Truvada, which is originally a PrEP medicine. I do not believe the first escort has HIV/ gave me HIV from the test results. So in this case since I was on it for 17 days as the insertive heterosexual partner, how long does it take to reach maximum effectiveness? How long do I continue PEP or PrEP for after this exposure? Anything else I should do now? I've contacted my physician, but am waiting to hear back from her.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

29 months ago

The drugs are instantly effective -- i.e. they effectively prevent HIV from entering cells and establishing a new infection. Being on the drug at the time of exposure is 100% effective in preventing infection; it could be stopped within a day after exposure and would remain effective. (That's how it works when Truvada and other drugs are used as PrEP instead of PEP. PrEP involved treatment for only 2-3 days and is 100% effective.

Follow your doctor's advice, but I see no reason for you to continue PEP beyond the initially planned 4 weeks.

That completes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and concludes this thread. Please note the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure. This being your second, it will have to be your last; future new questions about this exposure, testing, and HIV will receive no reply and the posting fee will not be refunded. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and to reduce temptations to keep paying for questions with obvious answers. In addition, experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users' anxieties rather than reducing them. Finally, such questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum's main purposes.

Thanks for your understanding. I hope the discussions have been helpful. If you have any continuing concerns, re-read both threads carefully; any answers you need probably are there. Good luck.

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