PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Small acronym, big protection! It’s the same strategy as birth control pills, only designed to prevent HIV. By taking it as prescribed, you reduce your risk of contracting the virus by up to 99%.
Is PrEP right for me?
The price of PrEP varies between $0 and $96.74 until you reach your maximum contribution for covered drugs under the public plan.
The cost varies according to the health insurance policy you have access to. It usually ranges from $0 to $185.
PrEP can be taken by anyone who is HIV-negative who seeks additional protection against HIV. This includes men who have sex with men, trans women, and gender-diverse communities.
PrEP is considered one of the best HIV prevention strategies, as it is up to 99% effective in protecting against HIV.
It offers strong protection to people who are at high risk of contracting HIV, thereby enabling them to maintain their HIV-negative status.
Being on PrEP means taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a drug that prevents the contraction of HIV by up to 99% when taken correctly.
PrEP does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV, and should not be considered an alternative to condoms to prevent STIs. PrEP is great, but it does not grant superpowers.
PrEP is specifically indicated for people who are HIV-negative, that is, those who do not have HIV. If you have HIV, PrEP will not protect you from getting infected again and will not treat an HIV infection. In this case, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional to discuss the HIV treatment options that are best for you.
es, it is possible to switch from on-demand PrEP to continuous PrEP.
After your last on-demand PrEP intake (2-1-1), you have the option of maintaining your protection levels by continuing to take PrEP at the same time every day—this is called daily or continuous PrEP.
Said differently, you can continue to take one PrEP pill a day for maximum protection against HIV (99%). If you want to stop taking PrEP or take a break and resume intake later, be sure to take one pill daily for at least two days after your last sexual encounter.
PrEP only protects against HIV; it offers no protection against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis.
This is why it is recommended to use condoms in addition to PrEP to maximize your protection against HIV and other STBBIs, and to get tested regularly when you’re sexually active.
Yes. In Canada, PrEP is currently only available in pill form.
While the FDA has approved injectable PrEP in the United States, Canada has yet to do so. Injectable PrEP may not be available in Canada until 2024 or even 2025.
PrEP is an antiretroviral drug taken orally for HIV prevention, that is, before potentially being exposed to the virus. If you come into contact with the virus, the presence of PrEP in your bloodstream will prevent HIV from taking hold, thereby maintaining your HIV-negative status.
PrEP does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV, and should not be considered an alternative to condoms to prevent STIs. PrEP is great, but it does not grant superpowers.
PrEP is specifically indicated for people who are HIV-negative, that is, those who do not have HIV. If you have HIV, PrEP will not protect you from getting infected again and will not treat an HIV infection. In this case, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional to discuss the HIV treatment options that are best for you.
Yes, it is possible to switch from on-demand PrEP to continuous PrEP.
After your last on-demand PrEP intake (2-1-1), you have the option of maintaining your protection levels by continuing to take PrEP at the same time every day—this is called daily or continuous PrEP.
Said differently, you can continue to take one PrEP pill a day for maximum protection against HIV (99%). If you want to stop taking PrEP or take a break and resume intake later, be sure to take one pill daily for at least two days after your last sexual encounter.
PrEP only protects against HIV; it offers no protection against other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis.
This is why it is recommended to use condoms in addition to PrEP to maximize your protection against HIV and other STBBIs, and to get tested regularly when you’re sexually active.
Yes. In Canada, PrEP is currently only available in pill form.
While the FDA has approved injectable PrEP in the United States, Canada has yet to do so. Injectable PrEP may not be available in Canada until 2024.
Truvada (brand name and generic) and Descovy are all 99% effective for HIV prevention when taken as prescribed.
Research shows that PrEP is less effective when the drug is not taken exactly as prescribed. This drop in protection is explained by insufficient levels of the drug in the body to prevent the spread of HIV.
As the effectiveness of PrEP decreases when doses are missed, it is essential to comply with treatment (take the drug as prescribed) in order to maintain optimal protection.
Only Truvada (brand name and generic) has been approved for on-demand use, specifically for men who have sex with men (MSM). Talk to your healthcare professional before transitioning from daily to on-demand PrEP use.
Yes. The main differences between generic and brand name Truvada are the cost and manufacturer.
Both forms of Truvada contain the same active ingredients, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine, and are equally effective in preventing the contraction of HIV.
The generic form is most often covered by health insurance without excess costs because it is less expensive.
The cost of PrEP depends on several factors, including the specific drug (generic Truvada or Descovy), as well as your drug insurance coverage.
If you are covered by public insurance (RAMQ), the cost of PrEP varies between $0 and $96.74 for generic Truvada. Descovy is currently not covered by RAMQ.
Some humanitarian financial support programs are also available if the cost of Descovy is a barrier to accessing PrEP.
You can find out more about the cost of PrEP according to your specific situation during your phone consultation.
The cost of PrEP depends on several factors, including the specific drug (generic Truvada or Descovy), as well as your drug insurance coverage.
If you are covered through a private health insurance plan, the cost varies depending on the coverage provided. The amount to be paid out of pocket can range between $0 and $185 for Descovy and around $60 for generic Truvada.
Some humanitarian financial support programs are also available if the cost of Descovy is a barrier to accessing PrEP.
You can find out more about the cost of PrEP according to your specific situation during your phone consultation.
PrEP costs vary depending on your private health insurance plan or RAMQ coverage.
If you do not have any health insurance coverage, Truvada (generic) costs $250 per month, and Descovy, $1 000.
Yes.
The PrEP drugs approved in Canada (brand name and generic Truvada and Descovy) are safe.
Your initial medical assessment will enable your healthcare provider to determine whether PrEP is safe for you to take and that you have no contraindications, such as being HIV-positive or having known kidney disease. Follow-ups will also allow for the monitoring of possible side effects and verify that the medication is effective.
A few people (1% to 10%) experience mild side effects from PrEP, such as nausea, headaches, diarrhea, and vomiting, but these usually go away on their own after approximately one to two weeks. Most side effects are also reversible after discontinuing PrEP. Monitoring is done for people with kidney problems.
Most of these findings pertain to generic Truvada, specifically. Research shows that people taking Descovy, the newer version of PrEP, report experiencing fewer side effects.
