Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
PrEP is antiretroviral medication taken by a person who is HIV negative to reduce the risk of contracting HIV. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the following three regimens for PrEP:
| DRUG: Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + emtricitabine) | |
|---|---|
| ADULT DOSING INFO | One tablet once a day. For some people, taking PrEP “on demand” before and after sex may be an option. Each tablet contains 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) + 200 mg emtricitabine. |
| APPROVED FOR | Approved for HIV-negative men, women and transgender individuals at risk for sexually acquired HIV. Generic version available. |
| DRUG CLASS | Nucleoside/ Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs, or nukes) |
| DRUG: Descovy (tenofovir alafenamide fumarate + emtricitabine) | |
|---|---|
| ADULT DOSING INFO | One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 25 mg tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) + 200 mg emtricitabine. |
| APPROVED FOR | Not approved for those at risk for HIV acquisition via vaginal sex. |
| DRUG CLASS | Nucleoside/ Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs, or nukes) |
| DRUG: Apretude (cabotegravir) | |
|---|---|
| ADULT DOSING INFO | Apretude is given as a single injection in the buttocks by a health care worker every other month. Apretude is initiated with two 600 mg injections given one month apart for the first two months, after which injections are given every two months. Alternatively, oral cabotegravir (Vocabria) may be taken for four weeks before the injections. |
| APPROVED FOR | Approved for HIV-negative men, women and transgender individuals at risk for sexually acquired HIV. |
| DRUG CLASS | Integrase Inhibitors |
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
PEP involves taking a short course of antiretroviral drugs, usually for a month, after a high-risk exposure to HIV. For maximum effectiveness, PEP should be started immediately—and no more than 72 hours—after possible exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following preferred HIV PEP regimen:
| DRUG: Isentress (raltegravir) | |
|---|---|
| DOSING INFO | One tablet twice a day. Each tablet contains 400 mg of raltegravir. |
PLUS
| DRUG: Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + emtricitabine) | |
|---|---|
| DOSING INFO | One tablet once a day. Each tablet contains 300 mg tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + 200 mg emtricitabine. |
Alternative PEP regimens can be found online in the CDC’s PEP Guidelines.
Click here for a printable version of this drug chart.
Click here for more information on HIV prevention.
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