What is PrEP, does it prevent HIV, is it available on the NHS what are the side effects of pre-exposure prophylaxis?
Trials have found it to reduce HIV in high risk individuals by about 86 per cent and it has been recommended by the World Health Organisation
PRE-EXPOSURE Prophylaxis (PrEP) is the wonder drug combo that promises to rid the world of HIV which can develop into AIDS.
Here is everything you need to know about the new treatment that's set to slam the brakes on the virus that has killed at least 35,000 people globally.
What is PrEP?
PrEP is the treatment given to people at a very high risk of developing HIV. The medicine is taken daily to try and prevent the risk of infection.
Drug users who share needles, promiscuous people, or someone who has an infected partner are most likely to pick up the virus.
Gay and bisexual men are most susceptible to catching HIV because anal sex carries a ten times higher risk of infection than vaginal.
PrEP is a combination of two HIV medicines - tenofovir and emtricitabine - and is sold under the brand name Truvada.
Does it PrEP prevent HIV?
Studies have shown that PrEP is highly effective for stopping HIV if used as prescribed.
It doesn't work properly when it's not taken as it should be.
Daily use can lower the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 per cent and from injection drug use by more than 70 per cent.
But it can be even more effective if used alongside condoms and not sharing needles.
What are the side effects of pre-exposure prophylaxis?
PrEP can cause nausea in some people, but eventually this gets better.
No serious side effects have been observed and they aren’t usually life threatening.
It’s advised to let your GP know about any bad side effects or if they do not go away.
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Is PrEP available on the NHS?
The drug has been approved by the NHS across the UK.
In Scotland everyone can have it but elsewhere a trial is being carried out among the most risk group to measure its effectiveness.
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