Preventive practices help reduce HIV transmission. However, for those who may not have practiced prevention or have been otherwise exposed to HIV, there is a second chance.
Truvada was approved in July 2012 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be taken within 72 hours of close contact to someone with HIV either through sex or an occupational exposure like a needle stick. The sooner Truvada is taken, the better.
Truvada is a drug used for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to HIV. It has been coined the HIV "morning after pill". Truvada contains two drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine, which will need to be taken once a day for 28 days. Sometimes another drug such as Kaletra may be added to treatment, depending on the person’s exposure.
Truvada can also be taken daily long term as a method to protect those who have ongoing risk of exposure to HIV as pre-exposure prophylaxis.
In order to take Truvada, you must first test negative for HIV and you will need to continue being tested in the months to come to make sure you remain HIV-negative.
Truvada does have some significant side effects, according to the Truvada website. Serious liver problems can occur, along with a risk of lactic acid buildup that could cause a medical emergency.
Lactic acid buildup may appear in the form of warning symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, irregular heartbeat or difficulty breathing. It is important to seek medical attention if these side effects occur.
Truvada is not inexpensive, it costs about $14,000 for a year of treatment according to Reuters, which is about $1,200 per a month. However, those who cannot afford the medication may qualify for funding through an assistance program offered by Gilead, the maker of Truvada. Learn more at http://www.truvada.com/truvada-patient-assistance/
There are also clinics that offer reduced pricing. Contact the National AIDS Hotlines for your state to find locations that can provide Truvada at 1-800-232-4636 or at http://www.thebody.com/index/hotlines/state.html/
It is best to not delay by shopping for the best price if you have been exposed to HIV.
PEP is not intended for repeated unprotected sex. It does not prevent HIV, it only decreases the risk of getting HIV.
Clinical trials showed that HIV risk decreased by 42 percent when an individual had unprotected sex with multiple partners where some partners had HIV. In another trial of heterosexual couples where one partner was HIV-positive, the decrease was 75 percent when also used with condoms, according to TheWeek.com.
Reuters stated that Truvada is estimated to be as much as 90 percent effective if taken daily along with other safe sex practices. Efficacy rate is estimated to be 44 percent for those who take it intermittently.
Opinions have been mixed about the availability of Truvada for PEP purposes.
Some people feel it encourages promiscuity since it offers an alternative to practicing consistent protective measures such as use of condoms or selectivity in partners.
Others are concerned about a resistance developing in some strains of HIV from overuse of the drug. They are worried that Truvada would not be as effective for those who need to take it all the time for pre-exposure protection.
The cost can also be a deterrent for its use though the cost to care for someone who develops AIDS is much more expensive.
“Every year, 50,000 U.S. adults and adolescents are diagnosed with the disease, which affects a total of 1.2 million across the country,” stated TheWeek.com.
Truvada used as PEP may not be the best option to reduce these numbers, but it is one of the best options available right now.
Sources:
Been Exposed to HIV in the Last 72 Hours? You May Need Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP). About.com Gay Life. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
http://gaylife.about.com/od/hivaid1/a/postexposurepep.htm
Treating HIV Exposure. Decreasing HIV Risk with Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. About.com. AIDs/HIV. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
http://aids.about.com/od/hivprevention/a/pep.htm
FDA panel backs Gilead's Truvada to prevent HIV. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/11/us-usa-aids-truvada-idUSBRE84A...
TRUVADA.com.
http://www.truvada.com
Truvada: A guide to the first FDA-approved HIV prevention pill. The Week.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
http://theweek.com/article/index/230659/truvada-a-guide-to-the-first-fda...
Sex and the H.I.V. Morning-After Pill. New York Times.com. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/29/opinion/sex-and-the-hiv-morning-after-...
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles/
Edited by Jody Smith