Prep

[snobbes]

After years of strugling with tight condoms I finally got around to go get PreP. Instructions said either to take 2 pills 2 hours before sex and 1 pill a day for 5 days after having sex or I could just take one pill every day. So I figured out that for me one pill a day is the best alternative for me as Im single and pretty sexually active now.. I took one pill in the morning but about 5 hourslater I felt like I was getting kinda sick and did not feel well at all so the next day i did not take it. After that I did not want to feel sick so I dropped it for a while. This week I tried to start the medication again. I took one pilll in the evening as i thought that if I should feel sick again i'll sleep it off. Woke up in the midle of the night feeling so fucking sick and spent the rest of the night in the toilet with a bucket in front of me.
So my question is: Who else here is on PreP and did any of you experience the same problems? What did you do ? Did you stop it or did the nauseousness fade evetually?

 

[deleted142346]

If you request Descovy vs. Truvada it might be easier on you? It's no picnic, but I'm 4 days in and not having anything too debilitating happen

 

[OKCLane]

Your experience is not uncommon. You can ask your prescribing physician to call out Zofran (that’s a brand name he/she will know). I’d ask for the dissolvable wafers as they won’t be thrown up and act quickly. We use them to combat nausea and they have few side effects though constipation is common. Take a daily probiotic.
All medications have side effects. Period. This includes PrEP and as another member suggested you might try another one. Personally I’m not a fan of these drugs but you will have to evaluate them for yourself and make the decision that works best for you. Hopefully you are able to speak candidly with your healthcare professional.

 

[winesthel945]

This is an easy fix: Take it in the morning with food. Most medicines on an empty stomach will make your stomach very unhappy. That said, in my experience that goes away after a week or two and I can take all my morning meds with no more than a cup of coffee and I'm usually fine. But even a couple of crackers or a slice of cheese or some yogurt can be enough to give your stomach something else to do besides complain.

 

[snobbes]

This is an easy fix: Take it in the morning with food. Most medicines on an empty stomach will make your stomach very unhappy. That said, in my experience that goes away after a week or two and I can take all my morning meds with no more than a cup of coffee and I'm usually fine. But even a couple of crackers or a slice of cheese or some yogurt can be enough to give your stomach something else to do besides complain.

Throwing up for 5 hours a day is not OK so I guess I stick to the XL condoms

 

[ohiorod]

As an HIV counselor, I wonder whether you were taking truvada or descovy? I think from my experience of promoting and monitoring patients on PrEP, your experience is a little more rare, but entirely believable. The Zoltan is an excellent suggestion. I do hope that you have relayed your concerns to your provider and not just LPSG. Communicating with your provider about unusual or intolerable side effects with any new medication is essential. I don’t see where you are residing in your profile, but hopefully you have competent and knowledgeable providers available to you. Whatever you do, please do it safely. Good luck !

 

[snobbes]

As an HIV counselor, I wonder whether you were taking truvada or descovy? I think from my experience of promoting and monitoring patients on PrEP, your experience is a little more rare, but entirely believable. The Zoltan is an excellent suggestion. I do hope that you have relayed your concerns to your provider and not just LPSG. Communicating with your provider about unusual or intolerable side effects with any new medication is essential. I don’t see where you are residing in your profile, but hopefully you have competent and knowledgeable providers available to you. Whatever you do, please do it safely. Good luck !

I live in scandinavia and there was no talk about different brands. The pills I got is named Emtricitabine/ Tenofovir disoproxil Accord

 

[aproud1]

Oh the cramps and gastral issues as a side effect of PreP. It’s painful.

 

[LICNYCgay]

I’m on Truvada and I tolerate it pretty well. I need to up my fiber intake when I’m on it, however, as I do tend to have softer stools when on it. But all in all works pretty good and the side effects are minimal.

Though I still use condoms most of the time as well. But on those rare occasions when a condom slips or I make a choice to go bare, I know I’m not risking my life to do it.

 

[BigBootyGlobalTrotter]

As an HIV counselor, I wonder whether you were taking truvada or descovy? I think from my experience of promoting and monitoring patients on PrEP, your experience is a little more rare, but entirely believable. The Zoltan is an excellent suggestion. I do hope that you have relayed your concerns to your provider and not just LPSG. Communicating with your provider about unusual or intolerable side effects with any new medication is essential. I don’t see where you are residing in your profile, but hopefully you have competent and knowledgeable providers available to you. Whatever you do, please do it safely. Good luck !

I take on Demand prep as I'm not that sexually active.

However I started taking daily prep two days ago (I took my third pill this morning) and a guy wants to hook up with me tonight. Will it be safe to have bareback sex or do I have to wait the full week for the medication to become totally resistant to HIV?

I bottom by the way.

 

[ohiorod]

You are supposed to wait or you are putting yourself at risk.

 

[BigBootyGlobalTrotter]

You are supposed to wait or you are putting yourself at risk.

Do you mind educating me on whats the difference between taking 3 daily prep pills on the course of 3 days versus taking two doses (event based) a few hours before having sex?

How is one of those methods apparently more effective despite the short time period before engaging in high-risk activity?

I live in London where On Demand/Event based dosing has been approved by all sexual health clinics here thats why I'm trying to understand the differences pertaining to dosing. I'm under 25 and get prep for free, I've recently just started taking it

 

[ericbear]

Do you mind educating me on whats the difference between taking 3 daily prep pills on the course of 3 days versus taking two doses (event based) a few hours before having sex?

How is one of those methods apparently more effective despite the short time period before engaging in high-risk activity?

I live in London where On Demand/Event based dosing has been approved by all sexual health clinics here thats why I'm trying to understand the differences pertaining to dosing. I'm under 25 and get prep for free, I've recently just started taking it

It has to do with how often you have sex, and if such sex is spontaneous or planned in advance.

If you have at-risk sex regularly (weekly or more frequently), or at random unexpected times, then the continuous daily dose is best for you. Your body will always have the effect of the drug, and it becomes sufficiently persistent that an occasional single missed does does not cause a significant lapse in effect. This is the plan I've used for years now.

Not everybody has regular sex, and for some it is planned in advance (i.e. that weekend away, or going to the club, etc.). Sometimes there is also a desire to minimize the amount of meds they take (cost, side effects, can't be bothered, etc.). Then the On Demand/Event method might be better, since you would take only a few pills occasionally. By the way, at least in the US, it's not just two pills before, it's two before, plus one on each of the following two days.

However, the downside of the On Demand/Event approach is that sometimes you will not have prepared for an unexpected event. That causes you to have to make a difficult decision, and we're not always very clear minded when we're horny. For this reason, the steady daily dose is also preferable.

As far as I know, on Demand is NOT "more effective." That's not how it is promoted in the US-- it is promoted as a second choice if you can not or will not use daily PrEP, which is regarded as the best plan if possible, particularly if you have frequent sex.

On-Demand PrEP:
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/ah/prep-on-demand-dosing-guidance.pdf

General PrEP Information:
PrEP and PEP: Information for Medical Providers - NYC Health

 

[boyaaronnyc]

I was just chatting with a friend the other day about feeling like taking my Truvada daily was pointless since it seems I won't be having sex in a while. (Thanks global pandemic for ruining my sex life!) But, ultimately I've still been taking it because, like the OP, I had some stomach issues when I started and figured since my body is just used to it, no reason to change anything.