PrEP Treatment Options Available to You
PrEP is a highly effective medication for preventing HIV. There are two ways to take PrEP depending on your needs; daily, or event based / on-demand.
Option 1: Daily PrEP
- Suitable if you need consistent protection; when sex or injecting is often unplanned; or you would prefer the consistency of a daily tablet.
Dosing regimen
- You take 1 tablet every day, around the same time each day.
- When you start, take 2 tablets together at least 2 hours before sex for initial protection, then continue with 1 tablet daily after that.
- We supply 3-months of daily PrEP on your first order. After this we provide 3- or 6-months’ supply of PrEP, based on your personal circumstances.
Option 2: Event Based / On-Demand PrEP
- Provides protection for anal sex (giving and receiving) and vaginal/frontal sex (giving and receiving); however, please note the difference in dosing regimens.
- Suitable if you can plan when you have condomless sex and you are good at remembering to take PrEP before and for 2 days (for anal sex and giving vaginal/frontal sex) or 7 days (for receiving vaginal/ frontal sex) after having sex.
Dosing regimens
For anal sex (giving or receiving) or giving vaginal/frontal sex
- Taken around sexual activity:
- 2 tablets between 2 and 24 hours before sex.
- 1 tablet each day when you are having condomless sex over a few days.
- 1 tablet each day for 2 days after the last time you had condomless anal sex (giving or receiving) or giving vaginal/frontal sex.
- We will provide 1 box of 30 tablets – this will cover a maximum of 7 event-based dosing regimens.
For vaginal/frontal sex (receiving)
- Taken around sexual activity:
- 2 tablets between 2 and 24 hours before sex.
- 1 tablet each day when you are having condomless sex over a few days.
- 1 tablet each day for 7 days after the last time you had condomless vaginal/frontal sex (receiving).
- We will provide 1 box of 30 tablets – this will cover a maximum of 3 event-based dosing regimens for when receiving vaginal/frontal sex.
For people who inject drugs
- Taken around injecting activity:
- 2 tablets between 2 and 24 hours before injecting any drug.
- 1 tablet each day when you are using injected drugs over a few days.
- 1 tablet each day for 7 days after the last time you injected.
- We will provide 1 box of 30 tablets – this will cover a maximum of 3 event-based dosing regimens for injecting episodes.
Reviewed by Adam Black on 17th Jan 2025.