Not only is PrEP medication highly effective, but it’s also convenient and easy to take. Antiretroviral drugs, the PrEP medication, come in the form of a pill taken once a day. When taken consistently and as prescribed, these medications can reduce the level of the virus in the blood (known as the “viral load”) to undetectable levels, making it much harder to transmit the virus.
What is the process for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV? Antiretroviral medication is taken before potential exposure to HIV to reduce the risk of acquiring the virus. The most commonly used antiretroviral drugs for PREP include tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC), combined and marketed as Truvada.
It’s important to note that PrEP HIV medication is not 100% effective and does not protect against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Therefore, it’s still recommended to use safe practices in addition to taking PrEP to reduce the risk of STI transmission.
