WHAT SHOULD YOU DO
IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT
HAVE BEEN EXPOSED?
Go to your doctor as soon as possible,
or the emergency room if your doctor
isn’t available. St. Mike’s on Church
St, and your nearest hospital has
the protocol to assess your risk of
infection, based on how you were
exposed and who you might have got
it from.
PEP is not appropriate for everyone;
it’s given to high-risk patients. They’ll
write you a prescription for PEP which
you can fill here (Village Pharmacy) or
at any reputable pharmacy.
WHAT DOES HIGH-RISK
EXPOSURE MEAN?
Typical scenarios are a condom
breaking or having unprotected sex
with someone with HIV or sharing
needles.
Hospital workers exposed to bodily
fluids that may contain HIV, like an
accidental needle-stick injury, are
given PEP to prevent infection.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN PEP AND PREP?
PEP is taken after exposure.
PrEP is taken before potential
exposure. If you have unprotected sex
or an HIV-positive partner, it may be
right for you.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
PEP is expensive, at $1,500 for a 28
day supply. Provincial insurance does
not cover it.
It’s a gap in the system. If you can’t
afford it, you won’t get it.
The hospital will give you a few days
supply to get started, but after that,
you have to buy the rest.
Insurance coverage for PEP varies
among providers and provinces.
It’s covered by Trillium and ODSP in
Ontario. Most private insurance plans
will cover it.
ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
It’s a newer drug prescribed twice a
day and is better tolerated with fewer
side effects than drugs like Truvada or
Triumeq.
Some of the short-term side effects
include a headache, nausea, and
dizziness.
It’s not meant to be taken long-term.
Post-exposure treatment with PEP last
28 days.
Zahid has worked in the village since
1975 and opened Village Pharmacy
in 1991. He’s been involved in HIV
treatment since then and is glad to see
the techniques used and hopes that
with awareness and new technology,
the infection rate will drop to 0%.
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