PrEP stands for Pre-exposure prophylaxis. Health care providers prescribe PrEP medication to prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in at-risk populations.

HIV is a highly transmissible viral infection that is spread through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person. It is most commonly spread through unprotected vaginal and anal sex and sharing needles for injectable drugs. Once a person is infected, HIV hides inside white blood cells and replicates itself. This replication process kills off white blood cells crucial to the immune system's functioning.

PrEP medications are used to prevent the spread of HIV in populations that are at risk for contracting this disease.

The National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) has identified the following groups as being “at-risk” for contracting HIV:

• Gay, bisexual, and men who have sex with other men
  
• Men who identify as Black, Latine, American Indian/Alaska Native
  
• Black women
  
• Transgender women
  
• People who use injectable drugs
  
• Young people between 13-24 years of age
  

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a viral infection that damages your body’s immune system. HIV is transmitted through sexual contact or contact with infected blood. Pregnant women may pass this disease to their unborn child or through breastfeeding. HIV is the early stage of the infection that may progress to become AIDS. If left untreated, HIV usually develops into AIDS within 8-10 months - once the virus severely damages the immune system.

HIV/ AIDS dramatically affects your body’s ability to fight infection. Individuals managing AIDS may become fatally ill from a disease that causes mild symptoms in healthy individuals.

Deaths caused by HIV/ AIDS have decreased in the last 10-20 years. However, the disease is still deadly if left untreated. Early detection can help you and your doctor slow the progression of the illness through medication.

HIV spreads through contact with bodily fluids from an infected individual. PrEP medications, when taken properly, build up in the bloodstream and work to prevent HIV from infecting white blood cells. If taken correctly, PrEP medication is 99% effective at preventing HIV infections.

PrEP will not stop someone infected with HIV from spreading it to someone else. Instead, it protects uninfected individuals from becoming infected. Because of this, PrEP is recommended for individuals in a sexual relationship with someone who has HIV (especially if that person has an unknown or detectable viral load). It is also prescribed for uninfected individuals at high risk of contracting HIV.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two forms of PrEP medication to prevent HIV infection. The most commonly prescribed form of PrEP is a daily oral tablet. A bimonthly injectable PrEP drug, Apretude (cabotegravir), was approved for use in 2021.

PrEP medicines cannot be used as HIV treatment, nor will they stop HIV from spreading to someone who does not take preventive medicine. Clinicians prescribe these medications to lower the risk of HIV infection in HIV-negative people.

Descovy is a brand-name prescription medication that providers prescribe in conjunction with other forms of medicine to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This medication is also defined as a preventative measure, along with safe sex practices like condom use, against HIV infections in high-risk adults and teenagers.

This medication is not a cure for an existing HIV infection or AIDS. It lowers levels of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body to prevent severe illness and the development of AIDS. Descovy will not prevent the spread of HIV to others.

Descovy contains a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide, available as a generic combination medication. Descovy is only available via prescription from a licensed health care provider.

Descovy is classified as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). These drugs work by blocking the action of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the reproduction of HIV. By inhibiting this enzyme, NRTIs slow the multiplication of HIV in the body, which ultimately lowers the overall level of HIV in the blood.

It is important to note that this medication does not cure HIV or AIDS. It is also usually prescribed along with other medicines. A health care provider will detail a comprehensive treatment plan, including Descovy, which should be followed precisely to prevent the infection from worsening.

Descovy is commonly supplied as an oral tablet to be taken once a day. Swallow the oral tablet whole. Descovy can be taken with or without food. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

The exact dosage of this medication will depend on the patient’s age and body weight. Take the medication exactly as ordered. Do not increase or discontinue the dosage without consulting your health care provider.

You must follow the entire course of treatment with this medication. Do not stop using it, even if you or your child begin to feel better.

If you begin to notice any adverse side effects like those listed above, notify your health care provider immediately.

Truvada is a brand-name prescription medication that providers prescribe in conjunction with other forms of medicine to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This medication is also defined as a preventative measure, along with safe sex practices like condom use, against HIV infections in high-risk adults and teenagers.

This medication is not a cure for an existing HIV infection or AIDS. It lowers levels of the human immunodeficiency virus in the body to prevent severe illness and the development of AIDS. It cannot be used to avoid spreading an HIV infection to others.

Truvada contains a combination of emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, which are available as a generic combination medication. Truvada is only available via prescription from a licensed health care provider.

Truvada is classified as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). These drugs work by blocking the action of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the reproduction of HIV. By inhibiting this enzyme, NRTIs slow the multiplication of HIV in the body, which ultimately lowers the overall level of HIV in the blood.

It is important to note that this medication does not cure HIV or AIDS. It is also usually prescribed along with other medicines. A health care provider will detail a comprehensive treatment plan, including Truvada, which should be followed precisely to prevent the infection from worsening.

Truvada is commonly supplied as an oral tablet to be taken once a day. Do not crush or chew this medication. Swallow the oral tablet whole. Truvada can be taken with or without food. Follow your doctor’s instructions for proper ingestion.

The exact dosage of this medication will depend on the patient’s age and body weight. Take the medication exactly as ordered. Do not increase or discontinue the dosage without consulting your health care provider.

You must follow the entire course of treatment with this medication. Do not stop using it, even if you or your child begin to feel better.

If you begin to notice any adverse side effects like those listed above, notify your health care provider immediately.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis medication has been shown to cause side effects in some patients.

Common side effects reported from oral PrEP use include:

• Anxiety
  
• Depression
  
• Insomnia
  
• Chills
  
• Body aches
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Fever
  
• Reddened or tender skin
  
• Pain or tingling in the hands and/ or feet
  
• Heartburn
  
• Fatigue
  
• Weakness
  
• Weight loss
  
  

Common side effects of injectable PrEP use include:

• Headaches
  
• Nausea
  
• Insomnia
  
• Anxiety
  
  

As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor of any medical conditions you currently manage. Tell them about any and all medications, prescription drugs, and supplements you are taking before starting treatment with PrEP medication. These drugs can interact with bodily substances, causing potentially serious adverse reactions.

Specifically, you should inform your health care provider of any antiviral, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), or anti-HIV/AIDS medication you are taking. Remember to mention any herbal products you use, especially St. John’s wort.

In addition, let your doctor know if you plan to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are currently breastfeeding before taking PrEP drugs. .

PrEP medication is currently only available via prescription. This means that a licensed health care provider must authorize the use of this medication.

If you are looking for a prescription, doctors on Sesame can write one or refill an existing one during a virtual or in-person visit. Note that not all drugs can be prescribed via an online video appointment. In some cases, an in-person doctor's visit is required for a prescription.

Depending on the medication, you can arrange for same-day pickup at your pharmacy or order the medication to be delivered to your door for just $5. Book an appointment with a provider on Sesame today to discuss whether or not this medication is right for you.

All prescriptions are at the discretion of your health care provider. Sesame cannot guarantee you will be provided a prescription after a video or in-person appointment. Providers on Sesame are unable to prescribe controlled substances.

Good news! If deemed clinically appropriate, providers on Sesame can write a prescription for PrEP medication to be picked up near you—often within the same day! Any licensed health care provider or clinician who prescribes medication can prescribe PrEP medicine. If you think PrEP medication is right for you, talk to your health care provider.

Before you can be prescribed PrEP medication, you must take an HIV test to ensure that you are HIV-negative. HIV lab tests are diagnostic screening exams used to check the blood for the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These tests can be performed at most primary care clinics.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a viral infection that damages your body’s immune system. HIV is transmitted through sexual contact or contact with infected blood. Pregnant women may pass this disease to their unborn child, or through breastfeeding. HIV is the early stage of the infection that may progress to become AIDS. If left untreated, HIV usually develops into AIDS within 8-10 months - once the virus has severely damaged the immune system.

HIV/ AIDS dramatically affects your body’s ability to fight infection. Individuals managing AIDS may become fatally ill from a disease that causes mild symptoms in healthy individuals.

Deaths caused by HIV/ AIDS have decreased in the last 10-20 years, however, the disease is still deadly if left untreated. Early detection can help you and your doctor slow the progression of the illness through medication.

No HIV test can detect HIV immediately after exposure. The tests used to diagnose HIV are usually employed within 10-90 days after infection. If you believe you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, contact your doctor to schedule a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) appointment. PEP involves taking medication for 28 days after possible exposure to prevent HIV.

You may elect to undergo PEP if:

• You had unprotected sex with someone who may be infected, or if the condom broke during sex
  
• If you have shared needles, syringes, or injection equipment (most common in narcotic drug users)
  
• You have been sexually assaulted
  

If you are worried that you may have been exposed to HIV, talk to your doctor about scheduling a test to diagnose the disease. Specific instructions for timing and preparation will be given depending on your symptoms, and the timing of your exposure.

HIV tests require either a blood or saliva sample.

In most cases, a blood test will be used at a primary care clinic. For this, a small needle will be inserted into your arm. You may feel a slight pinch or sting as the needle enters the skin, but this pain should subside within a few seconds. Blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm and deposited into a small test tube.

After the appropriate amount of blood has been taken from the vein, the needle will be removed from your arm, the puncture site cleaned, and the area bandaged. The test tube will then be given to the laboratory for testing.

This procedure usually takes about 5-10 minutes. In most cases, you will be cleared to leave the clinic after the test has been performed.

Getting lab work done has never been easier. Simply schedule a virtual lab consult with a Sesame clinician so that they can review your medical history and determine if labs are necessary. Lab options include Hemoglobin A1c Lab Tests, lipid panels, urinalysis, thyroid panels, comprehensive male panels, comprehensive female panels, HIV lab tests, and more.

If appropriate, your provider will send you a lab order (a document for the lab that states which tests you need) after your consult for your review and payment. Once you purchase the lab order, you can send it via fax or online portal to a Quest location of your choice and schedule an in-person blood draw. Depending on your facility, you can even show up for a walk-in!

After your blood draw is complete, you and your provider will both receive a copy of your lab results. This process can take anywhere from 2-5 business days. Once your results are in, your provider will review them to determine if a follow-up is necessary.