What Is PrEP?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a HIV prevention strategy that works by taking a pill once daily every day. PrEP can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. When taken regularly it can greatly reduce your risk of getting HIV.
At PrEP clinic, our team is ready to answer any questions that you may have regarding PrEP.
We currently offer two options for PrEP that have been proven highly effective at preventing HIV:
Truvada and its generics have been approved for both daily and on-demand PrEP. It is generally well tolerated.
Common side effects (experienced by 7% or less of Truvada users) may include headache, abdominal pain, and weight loss. Other side effects may also include kidney, liver, and bone issues as well as lactic acidosis. This is mostly seen in people with pre-existing conditions, though such conditions do not always mean that one cannot take Truvada.
Descovy is another medication that has been recently approved for PrEP in Canada. It is also well tolerated, and may have decreased impact on bone mineral density loss.
Possible side effects (in 5% or less of Descovy users) include diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach discomfort.
Other side effects may also include kidney and liver issues as well as lactic acidosis. Descovy has been studied as a daily regimen and has not yet been studied on an on-demand schedule.”
