Should you consider HIV PrEP as a part of the HIV prevention strategy? The answer is yes. This medicine is designed to prevent or control the spread of HIV infection in the body. It is amazingly effective in preventing HIV; however, it should be taken after consulting with a doctor to find which PrEP is right for you and when. Learn how PrEP works and its benefits and side effects in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
How does it work?
PrEP belongs to a class of antiviral medications called nucleoside/reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). This medication blocks the enzyme HIV uses to convert its RNA into DNA (reverse transcription). This means the virus is not able to multiply itself in your body. When you start taking PrEP, it reaches a certain level in your bloodstream, and mucus membranes to help protect you from being infected. Before starting PrEP, make sure you get an HIV test once every 2 to 3 months before and get a negative test result.
If you’ve been exposed to HIV infection or have symptoms of an acute infection, you need to wait to make sure you test negative before restarting PrEP because it is not effective in treating HIV alone, and it may cause drug resistance which makes it difficult to treat your infection with another drug during an active HIV infection.
Benefits
Here are some benefits of PrEP you can enjoy, including:
- HIV prevention: When you take PrEP as prescribed, it can lower the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99% and if you take it from injection by at least 74%.
- Protection during pregnancy and breastfeeding: PrEP can protect you and your baby if you’re planning to get pregnant from a partner with HIV.
- Don’t affect hormone therapy: If you take hormone therapy for any health condition, it doesn’t affect your hormones in the body.
PrEP is most effective when taken consistently each day. However, it won’t protect you against other STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections), so use latex condoms whenever you have sex.
PrEP can also benefit you if:
- You have a partner or ex-partner with HIV.
- You had condomless sex with a partner or partners without confirming their HIV status.
- You are trans or non-binary and do condomless sex often.
- Exchange sex for your needs like money, drugs, shelter, and other reasons.
- Inject drugs.
How is This Medication to Be Taken?
For PrEP to be effective, you must take it exactly as directed. Don’t stop taking PrEP without first consulting your physician. In the event that you run out of PrEP pills while taking them, get in touch with your pharmacist or physician to receive more. If you stop taking PrEP or miss several doses, your risk of contracting HIV will be higher than if you take it as directed.
Risk and side effects
Usually, people experience some side effects in their first month when they start taking PrEP. It includes:
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Stomach pain
- Depression
- Insomnia
In some cases, you may experience rare but severe side effects, like:
- Skin reactions like
- Liver and kidney problems
- Worsening hepatitis B
- Lactic acidosis
Before taking any PrEP medications, make sure you consult with your doctor or pharmacist about those medicines including side effects, and interactions with other medications. If you’re experiencing an allergic reaction or other severe side effects from PrEP medications, immediately contact the medical care center near you.
HIV PrEP is highly effective if you think you may have contracted HIV, however, make sure you get regular testing and talk with a qualified doctor before taking this medicine. While PReP is beneficial for HIV prevention, unnecessary use of this may lead to drug resistance which makes it ineffective to protect you from an HIV infection. So, always consult with your doctor and take this as part of your prevention strategy which lowers the risk of contracting HIV and transmitting the virus to your sexual partners.
Need help with HIV, visit our infectious disease doctor in Brooklyn clinic for professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!
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