Exposure to HIV does not necessarily mean you are infected. While most exposures do not lead to an infection, being treated within 72 hours of exposure gives you the best chance of stopping HIV from infecting your cells. One study showed that post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was 99% effective in patients sexually exposed to HIV. PEP is also used for patients exposed to HIV due to needle stick injuries (mostly affecting healthcare workers). So, what do you do if you think you’ve been exposed to HIV?
Get Tested for HIV
As soon as possible after an exposure, get tested for HIV. This ensures the virus is not already present from a previous infection. If the test is negative, PEP should be considered.
PEP Treatment Options
Three different medications are used for PEP. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using three or four medications, two combined into one tablet. Tenofovir and emtricitabine make up Truvada or Descovy, a tablet taken once daily along with one of the following:
- Dolutegravir is taken orally in tablet form once or twice a day.
- Raltegravir is a tablet taken orally twice a day.
- Darunavir and ritonavir are taken once daily.
Truvada with one of the first two combinations is the most common. Most 24-hour pharmacies have at least one of the combinations available, but many smaller pharmacies may not have it in stock.
Monitoring and Follow-Up on HIV Treatment
All PEP combinations are continued for a full 28 days. During this time, patients are carefully monitored for the following signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Fatigue
At 4 to 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after the exposure, you should again be tested for HIV.
Long-Term Management of HIV
In the event of a positive test, treatment for HIV is initiated, and appropriate management can assure many years of good health. If you start treatment early and take medications as prescribed, your life expectancy could be the same as that of non-infected people.QuickMD can treat you after a possible HIV exposure by telemedicine and prescribe PEP online. You can then pick up that medication at your local pharmacy.
