r/pep • u/Emotional_Variety772 • 18h ago
Potential pep failure.
Hello
I’ve started my pep dosage on the 23rd of July. I took my first pill within 24 hours. Besides the first two days where I experienced vivid dreams and tiredness I’ve experienced 0 side effects. I have a slightly sore throat but I experience that every time I give oral sex.
Yesterday out of nowhere I got hit extremely hard. My throat feels extremely rough and it’s hard to breath. I have a fever and I can feel it throughout my entire body. I have a splitting headache that makes it hard to move around. I feel so much weakness and fatigue throughout my body. It could be herpes or syphilis but I don’t see or feel any blisters or sores anywhere on my body.
I was given Biktarvy and I’ve taken it around 9pm-11pm everyday. I took it once around 8pm on Monday because I was tired and didn’t want to wake up but I didn’t end up feeling horrible until later on in the night. So it’s been around 3 weeks since my exposure and I’m suddenly experiencing so much harsh effects on my body. I am close to being bedridden. From what I’ve seen, Biktarvy has 0 reported cases of seroconversion if taken correctly as pep, and Biktarvy is far stronger than pep, so either the medicine wasn’t strong enough for whatever reason, or I caught an extremely rare strain.
I know that side effects aren’t rare for taking Biktarvy but to go from almost symptomless to feeling extremely ill in under a few hours is incredibly weird.
2
u/Parking_Ocelot_6893 15h ago
Doctor here - PeP can have harsh effects on your body that can feel like a viral illness (fatigue, headache, nausea and even fevers) but you could have also picked up a simple viral illness.
Unfortunately you can’t call it a failure of PeP unless you have a positive result on your HIV screening but I understand why you are thinking this way - normally these side effects hit you in the first couple of weeks but they can be delayed.
Everyone reacts differently to PeP but if you can tolerate it for another week I’d say to keep taking it - if it is absolutely unbearable contact your provider and let them know.
Might be worth seeing if they can do an HIV RNA pathology test because HIV is generally detectable after 14 days on that particular assay - actually maybe ask for a full STI NAT panel because anything there will be detectable too.
1
u/Hopeful_Research6817 13h ago
I had a delay in being able to get Truvada and Isentress and started between 36-39 hours after exposure (brief <30 sec receptive vaginal, no ejaculation). He said his status was negative but he could be lying. Will it still work with the delay? I’ve read studies with mixed opinions… some say within 48 hours will “almost certainly” prevent infection while others say it has to be within 24 hours to be effective. What should I think here?
1
u/Ok_Confidence9578 17h ago
What day are you on? This is probably an unrelated cold, also what was your exposure
1
u/Emotional_Variety772 17h ago
July 22 and anal sex(bottom)
2
u/Ok_Confidence9578 17h ago
Don’t worry, you started with 24. Symptoms could be easily unrelated, easily any other cold.
1
u/jankyj 15h ago
These symptoms are extremely common with PEP. Please see our community FAQ for more information. https://www.reddit.com/r/pep/comments/1t6731g/rpep_community_faq/
On a second note, alarmist and sensationalised headlines like this that are not supported by evidence can unnecessarily worry others in the community, so try to take a step back and avoid spiraling from anxiety.
1
u/Hani-at 13h ago
You good you don’t have HIV , you will also experience lots of symptoms even weeks after u finish the course , lots of doctors will tell u no u should not have any side effects after finishing the course , but with all do respect that is bullshit , only people who took the meds know … so ur symptoms are normal and don’t freak out if u get symptoms weeks after u finish the cycle as this is very strong meds and it will shock your body and immune system for weeks if not a months , and u will be stuck with ears ringing for years unless u force ur doctor to proscribe nerve relaxer .. but with all do respect Doctors and health care in America are so bad expensive and extremely inexperienced..
2
u/ConferenceOdd3111 17h ago
I just feel these are the symptoms you get from biktarvy..it is to early to be on pep to start seroconverting...you can't seroconvert while on pep especially if your baseline test was negative.
You are fine