Difference between PrEP and PEP

If you are keen to limit your exposure to HIV, it is the right place to know how. Unfortunately, an active sex life, despite giving pleasure and satisfaction, carries dangers with it. Fortunately, we have medications that help prevent HIV and lessen the harm associated with active sex life.

PrEP and PEP are medications to prevent HIV. Each type is effective in a different condition. PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is for people who do not already have HIV but are at a very high risk of acquiring it. PrEP is a daily medicine that may reduce this risk. With PrEP, if you get exposed to HIV, the treatment may prevent HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout the body. 

PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. PEP is for people exposed to HIV. It is only for emergency situations. Start taking PEP within 72 hours after a possible exposure to HIV. 

Keep going through the article and discover how you may benefit from PrEP. 

What is PrEP?

PrEP, or Pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a drug treatment that intends to protect you from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It is a medicine you take every day before you think you might come into contact with the virus. It lessens the chances of acquiring HIV from sex or injection drug use. PrEP prevents HIV infection in HIV-negative people at higher risk for HIV. PrEP combines two drugs in one pill. PrEP in your bloodstream may stop HIV from taking hold and spreading, keeping you HIV-negative. 

PrEP is not necessarily for everyone and is a personal choice. Your circumstances and your risk of getting exposed to HIV will all play a role in deciding whether PrEP is right for you. 

Who should consider taking PrEP?

PrEP is for people without HIV with a very high risk of acquiring it. This includes:

Bisexual/gay men who:

• have an HIV-positive sexual partner
• have multiple partners, a partner with various partners, or a partner whose HIV status is not yet known
• have anal sex without a condom
• are diagnosed with a  sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past 6 months 

Heterosexual men and women who:

• have an HIV-positive sexual partner
• have multiple partners, a partner with various partners, or a partner whose HIV status is not yet known
• do not use a condom each time when having sex with people who inject drugs 
• do not use a condom each time having sex with bisexual men 

People who are habitual of injecting drugs and:

• share syringes, needles, or other equipment to inject drugs
• are at risk of getting HIV from sex 

Side Effects of PrEP

PrEP is a safe drug if consumed at prescribed therapeutic parameters. It may cause specific side effects that may usually go away over time. The common side effects of PrEP are:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Stomach pain or discomfort
• Loss of appetite
• Weight fluctuations 

A significant adverse effect of Truvada is the effect on kidney function and health. Truvada may decrease the filtering capacity of your kidneys. There are no other serious or life-threatening side effects. Consult your healthcare provider about any side effects that are severe or do not go away. 

How effective is PrEP?

If you take the drug as your doctor prescribes, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV by 99 %. If you take it as your doctor recommends, usually a pill daily, PrEP is quite effective against future HIV contact. PrEP is super effective when combined with other protections, such as condoms. PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV as it: 

• PrEP lessens the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% if you take it as your doctor prescribes. 
• Although there is little information about how effective PrEP medication is among people who inject drugs, prEP pills reduce the risk of HIV by at least 74% if you take them as your doctor prescribes.
• Presently, PrEP shots are not for people who inject drugs.
• PrEP is little or not practical when you do not take it as your doctor recommends.
• Insertive partners (those topping) have a lower chance of getting HIV, while those receiving (bottoming) have a higher chance.
• For daily PrEP users, it may reduce HIV risk by 84% from drug injection.
• PrEP on-demand has overall efficacy of 86% in preventing HIV (if you take it as your doctor prescribes) among MSM (men who have sex with men).
• For anal sex, PrEP is highly effective after taking it for 7 days consistently.
• For vaginal/frontal sex, PrEP takes about 21 days to reach desired concentrations for protection.
• Taking PrEP four times a week is 99% effective at preventing HIV infection through anal sex. If you take it twice a week, efficacy drops to 75%.
• PrEP is less effective when you do not take it as your doctor recommends.

The drug doesn't work as well if you miss doses. You must take it as directed to get the protection.

What Is PEP?

PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, is a medication to prevent HIV after you think you may have been exposed to the virus and within 72 hours (3 days). It is a treatment that may stop an HIV infection after the virus has entered your body. PEP is a combination of HIV drugs that may prevent the virus from taking hold. You must take PEP daily for about a month (28 days). The sooner you take PEP, the more effective the treatment will be. PEP is not effective if you take it after 72 hours after exposure.

PEP may lower your risk of HIV infection by 80% if you take it as your doctor prescribes. However, PEP is not a morning-after pill for HIV, and it's not guaranteed to work. PEP is just for emergencies. Do not use it in place of safe sex or new sterile needles.

Taking PEP will not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancies. 

Who Might Need PEP?

PEP is for people who are exposed to HIV. It may help people:

• exposed to HIV during sex
• sexually assaulted 
• drug users who recently shared needles or other related items 
• Healthcare workers who believe they've been exposed to HIV on the job 

If exposed to HIV, go to the hospital or see your doctor as soon as possible. They may help you figure out whether you need PEP. 

How effective is PEP?

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is a four-week course of medication that may block HIV infection after possible exposure to the virus. 

• Observational studies indicate that PEP is highly effective in preventing HIV.
• PEP is highly effective when it is started soon after exposure to HIV when you do not miss doses and complete the 28-day course.
• PEP is not a cure for HIV. However, PEP may prevent HIV from entering cells in the body and so stop someone from acquiring HIV.
• The common cause of HIV infection in people who take PEP is ongoing risk behaviour.

Side Effects of PEP

PEP is a safe drug if consumed at prescribed therapeutic parameters. It may cause specific side effects that may usually go away over time. The common side effects of PrEP are:

• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Upset stomach
• Flatulence
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Abnormal dreams

Difference: PrEP vs PEP

PrEP and PEP are two distinct ways to use anti-HIV medications as prevention or prophylaxis. However, they work in different ways. The drugs differ in the following respects:

• PrEP is a prevention method for HIV-negative people at high risk of being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use. PEP refers to using antiretroviral drugs for HIV-negative people after a single high-risk exposure to stop HIV infection.
• The significant difference between PrEP and PEP is timing. You take PrEP before you may be exposed to HIV. In contrast, you take PEP after a single event that may have exposed you to HIV.
• PrEP is designed in a planned way on an ongoing basis. PEP is not a morning-after pill for HIV, and it's not guaranteed to work. PEP is only for emergencies.
• Most people take PrEP once daily. Some people may use event-based dosing, which involves taking it before sex and then for two days afterwards. PEP is a four-week course of drugs. Doctors recommend taking PEP within 24 hours of exposure to HIV, but certainly within 72 hours (3 days).
• There are two drugs in PrEP combined in a single tablet. There are three drugs in PEP, usually the same for PrEP, plus a third one. The third one works differently from the first two (as it belongs to a different drug class). The three drugs are provided in two tablets.

Conclusion

PrEP and PEP are medications to prevent HIV. Both are effective in different situations. PrEP is pre-exposure prophylaxis, and PEP is post-exposure prophylaxis. As the name suggests, PrEP is for HIV-negative persons at high risk of HIV. PEP is for those exposed to HIV. Ultimately, the best way to prevent HIV is to protect yourself and reduce your risk of transmission and exposure. Always consult the doctor if you have concerns regarding safe sex. They are the only ones who can determine whether or not PrEP or PEP is the best treatment option for you.