PrEP medication to prevent the transmission of HIV

PrEP

PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a comprehensive HIV prevention strategy that involves the daily oral use or bi-monthly injection of antiretroviral medications to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV.

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PrEP should be used along with other prevention methods to reduce the risk of other sexually transmitted infections.

Young male talking to a health care provider

PEP

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is an HIV-prevention strategy using anti-retroviral medications to prevent acquiring HIV following a possible exposure.

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PEP

There are two types of PEP:

  1. Occupational PEP, for an exposure that happens in the workplace (such as a needle stick in a health care setting)
  2. Non-occupational PEP (nPEP), for when someone is potentially exposed to HIV through sexual intercourse or injection drug use

If you think you’ve been exposed to HIV and are in need of PEP, contact your local hospital emergency room, urgent care clinic, or local county health department for PEP evaluation and treatment. To be effective, PEP must begin within 72 hours of exposure. A physician must determine what treatment is appropriate based on the nature of the exposure. PEP typically consists of 2–3 antiretroviral medications taken for 28 days.

Starting PEP after a potential exposure does not guarantee HIV prevention, but the sooner PEP is started, the better. Follow-up testing is important to determine if any next steps are needed.