Two PrEP dosing regimens are available: daily PrEP and on-demand PrEP. Daily PrEP involves taking medication at any time of the day, with or without food. It requires seven days of consistent use to achieve adequate protection. Potential side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.
Additionally, on-demand PrEP allows for medication intake only when anticipating HIV exposure, eliminating the need for daily dosing. For instance, the “2-1-1” schedule entails taking two pills within 24 hours before unprotected intercourse, followed by one pill daily for the subsequent two days. While on-demand PrEP demonstrates efficacy in anal intercourse, further research is warranted to assess its effectiveness in vaginal intercourse. Studies suggest that on-demand PrEP may offer inferior protection against HIV compared to daily PrEP.
While on-demand PrEP may suffice in certain cases, daily tablet usage is recommended for individuals at high risk of HIV transmission. These tablets are generally safe and effective, providing a reliable defense against HIV infection.
Although individuals living with HIV can lead relatively normal lives with proper medication, there is currently no cure for the infection. Once infected, lifelong HIV medication is necessary, accompanied by potential health complications. This underscores the importance of proactive HIV prevention measures.
While PrEP offers significant protection against HIV, it does not guarantee complete immunity. Therefore, it should be complemented by other preventive measures, such as consistent and correct condom use, regular HIV screening, adoption of safer sexual practices, and avoidance of needle sharing. Additionally, it’s crucial to recognize that while PrEP shields against HIV infection, it does not safeguard against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HPV, hepatitis B and C, and gonorrhea.
