Pharmacy Clinical Pearl of the Day: PrEP for HIV

Clinical Pearl of the Day: PrEP for HIV

• Emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Truvada) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a once-daily prescription medicine for adults and adolescents at risk of HIV who weigh at least 77 pounds.

Explanation

• Truvada is a medicine people at risk for HIV should take to prevent infection with the virus from various ways, such as sex or injection drug use.
• PrEP consists of a combination of 2 antiretroviral drugs (tenofovir and emtricitabine), usually taken daily and often in combination with other HIV medicines.
• When taken consistently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that PrEP reduces the risk of HIV infection by up to 92%.

Reference

• How Does PrEP Work to Reduce HIV Infections? | FamilyCare of Kent
• TRUVADA for PrEP® (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)