OutInform: Houston Pride Guide 2017 Issue | Page 22
What is TRUVADA for PrEP (Pre-exposure Prophylaxis)? u You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver
TRUVADA is a prescription medicine that can be used for PrEP to help
reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection when used together with safer
sex practices. This use is only for adults who are at high risk of getting
HIV-1 through sex. This includes HIV-negative men who have sex with
men and who are at high risk of getting infected with HIV-1 through sex,
and male-female sex partners when one partner has HIV-1 infection
and the other does not.
Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to
prevent getting HIV-1. Always practice safer sex and use condoms
to lower the chance of sexual contact with body fluids. Never reuse
or share needles or other items that have body fluids on them. Who should not take TRUVADA for PrEP?
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important information I should know
about TRUVADA for PrEP?
Before taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting
HIV-1 infection:
u You must be HIV-negative. You must get tested to make sure that
you do not already have HIV-1 infection. Do not take TRUVADA for
PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 unless you are confi rmed to
be HIV-negative.
u Many HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has
recently become infected. If you have flu-like symptoms, you could
have recently become infected with HIV-1. Tell your healthcare provider
if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting
TRUVADA for PrEP or at any time while taking TRUVADA for PrEP.
Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include tiredness, fever, joint or
muscle aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, night
sweats, and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.
While taking TRUVADA for PrEP to reduce your risk of getting
HIV-1 infection:
u You must continue using safer sex practices. Just taking TRUVADA
for PrEP may not keep you from getting HIV-1.
u You must stay HIV-negative to keep taking TRUVADA for PrEP.
u To further help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1:
• Know your HIV-1 status and the HIV-1 status of your partners.
• Get tested for HIV-1 at least every 3 months or when your healthcare
provider tells you.
• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections. Other infections
make it ea