What is PrEP?

• PrEP, or Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, is a medication to reduce your risk of contracting HIV from sex or injecting drug use.

• PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV. PrEP reduces the risk of HIV from sex by 99% and over 74% from injecting drug use.

 

Who can take PrEP?

• Anyone who is HIV negative and is sexually active.

• Anyone who is HIV negative and sharing injecting drug equipment.

• You should take PrEP if you:

          - Have a sexual partner with HIV who is not virally suppressed or unknown status.

          - Have had recent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the last 6 months.

          - Have multiple sexual partners.

          - Are engaging in sex without condoms.

 

How should I take PrEP?

• There are 3 different types of PrEP and ways to take it:

          - Oral Truvada or Descovy: A daily pill or “On-Demand” PrEP.

          - Injectable Apretude: An injection every two months.

 

What is “On-Demand PrEP”?

• A non-daily PrEP dosing strategy, which is taken when you know you’re going to have sex (taken before and after sex at specific times).

• “PrEP On-Demand” is currently only recommended for cisgender men who have sex with men.

• “PrEP On-Demand” is currently NOT recommended for heterosexual men and women, people who inject drugs, and transgender persons.

 

How does PrEP work?

• PrEP works by preventing the HIV virus from replicating in your body.

• PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by 99% and by at least 74% from injection drug use, when taken as prescribed.

• For receptive anal sex (bottoming), you reach maximum HIV protection after taking Truvada or Descovy every day for 7 days.

• For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, you reach maximum HIV protection after taking Truvada or Descovy every day for 21 days.

• PrEP does not protect against other STIs or pregnancy, therefore condoms are still recommended every time you have sex.

 

What are the side effects of PrEP?

• PrEP is safe and most people tolerate PrEP well, but some people experience minor side effects when they first start PrEP, which consist of:

          - Stomach pain

          - Nausea

          - Headaches

          - Fatigue

          - Tiredness

• These symptoms are usually mild and go away within days to weeks on PrEP.

• Strategies you can take to manage stomach related symptoms are:

          - Taking PrEP with food or a snack.

          - Taking PrEP at night before bed.

• If you experience any side effects that are severe or do not go away after a month, contact your PrEP provider.

 

Can I take PrEP while on birth control?

• Yes, it is safe to use both PrEP and birth control at the same time.

• There are no known drug interactions between PrEP and hormone-based birth control methods.

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Is PrEP covered by insurance?

• Most health insurance plans and Medi-cal programs cover PrEP, the required clinic visits and lab tests.

• If you do not have or are not eligible for health insurance, there are other programs that can cover PrEP for free or low cost:

          - PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP)

          - Ready-Set-PrEP Federal Program

          - Patient assistance programs through Viiv Healthcare and Gilead.

• Your immigration status does not prevent you from accessing these assistance programs and all information is confidential and not disclosed to immigration departments.

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Do I need testing before starting PrEP and while taking PrEP?​

• Before starting PrEP, you need to take an HIV test to make sure you do not have HIV.

• While taking PrEP, you will have to see your PrEP provider routinely for:

          - Follow-up visits (every 3 months for oral PrEP or every 2 months for injectable PrEP)

          - HIV / STI lab tests

          - Creatinine (kidneys) lab testing

          - Prescription refills or injections.

 

How can I get PrEP?

• PrEP can be prescribed by any licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.

• You can get PrEP at a pharmacy that provides it.

• Under California’s new law, Senate Bill 159, pharmacists can supply PrEP without seeing a medical provider after HIV testing and counseling. Pharmacists may supply up to 2 months of PrEP every 2 years.

 

Where can I get PrEP in Los Angeles?

• Eddie’s Pharmacy offers PrEP to help you start PrEP as soon as possible. PrEP navigation services are provided to support you, answer any questions and connect you with a local prevention provider for ongoing care.

 

Start PrEP today by clicking here and scheduling an appointment.