PrEP is short for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is the use of anti-retroviral medication to prevent acquisition of HIV infection. It is used by HIV uninfected persons who are at high risk of being exposed to HIV through sexual contact or injection drug use. At present, the only medication with an FDA-approved indication for PrEP is oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine (TDF-FTC) which is available as a fixed-dose combination in a tablet called Truvada®. This medication is also commonly used in the treatment of HIV.
PrEP should be considered part of a comprehensive prevention plan that includes adherence, risk reduction counseling, HIV prevention education and provision of condoms.
What are the guidelines for prescribing PrEP? +
To whom should I offer PrEP? +
Who can prescribe PrEP? +
How is TDF-FTC for PrEP prescribed? +
What is the evidence base for PrEP? +
How important is adherence to PrEP? +
How quickly does PrEP provide protection? +
Is PrEP safe? +
Who is not eligible for PrEP? +
Does PrEP work in women? +
Can adolescents take PrEP? +
What baseline assessment is required for individuals beginning PrEP? +
What additional support and ongoing assessment are required for patients on PrEP? +
Will PrEP be covered by my patients’ health insurance? +
If I take care of both members of a serodiscordant couple, is it preferable to treat just the HIV-positive partner, just the HIV-negative partner, or both? +
Can PrEP be used to help serodifferent couples conceive? +