How do I take daily PrEP?
Like it sounds, daily PrEP means taking one tablet every day to protect yourself from HIV. This daily regimen was the first to be approved in the United States and is also approved in several other countries
Why consider it?
Daily PrEP is the preferred regimen in most countries and the one your doctor or healthcare provider is most likely to prescribe for you. It’s a very simple regimen: take one pill once a day, and return to your healthcare practitioner's office periodically for a checkup and lab work.
Who can use it?
Daily dosing has been studied and shown to work in cisgender men and women and in transgender women. Research in transgender men has been far more limited, but it is expected that PrEP works well for trans men. Daily PrEP was the first PrEP regimen to receive Health Authority approval, in the United States in 2012, and is approved in all countries where PrEP is approved.
Who may be unable to use it?
Do not take PrEP if you are HIV-positive. You may be unable to take PrEP if you are taking certain medications to treat Hepatitis B. You may be unable to take PrEP if you have pre-existing kidney, liver, or bone problems, or if you are taking certain medications for other health problems.
PrEP is intended to be taken under medical supervision. Discuss your health and any medications you take with your healthcare professional before to make sure the PrEP regimen will be safe and effective for you.
What lab tests are recommended?
A set of standard PrEP lab tests are recommended when you start PrEP. In the United States, the standard of care is to start you on PrEP the same day you visit the clinic, even while you are waiting for the results of the lab tests. Not all clinics do this, but it’s standard practice at the good ones like Magnet in San Francisco and 56 Dean Street in London. If you order your Truvada or generic equivalent online, you can arrange to get the lab testing done through a local healthcare provider or sexual health center. Don’t forget to do this, as the lab work is critical to ensure you remain safe and healthy while on PrEP.