PrEP

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

PrEP is when people at high risk for HIV take HIV medicines daily to lower their chances of getting infected. A combination of two HIV medicines (tenofovir and emtricitabine), sold under the name Truvada® (pronounced tru vá duh), is approved for daily use as PrEP to help prevent an HIV-negative person from getting HIV from a sexual or injection-drug-using partner who’s positive. Studies have shown that PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV if it is used as prescribed.

As of Dec 2019:

• Studies have shown that PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken consistently.
• The Copyrights for Truvada® have expired and now there are generic versions available at a fraction of the cost.
• many US States have programs to provide PrEP for those under insured and unable to pay for it.

For more information click here for the CDC’s PrEP Page.