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NPEP Considerations
Thank you for your truly amazing service.
I am a 24yr old, 6'1'', 210lb male that is currently on Celexa for anxiety (Go figure!) I also have thalassemia minor.
Last night (around 15-20 hours ago) I had unprotected sex vaginal sex with a woman whom I did not know well. AFTER sex, she so kindly informed me that her ex-bf (whom she had sexual encounters with) was a heroin user (in central Ohio)who used needles. She told me that he didn't have HIV or share needles. But honestly, I don't care what she says because I can't prove it. And to top it off, during intercourse it became evident that she was on her period.
I just went to the clinic and was prescribed Combivir, twice daily. I am worried about the side effects mainly- I asked the pharmacist and he wasn't too sure and I actually informed my prescribing doctor about the PEP regime, who didn't know about it until I mentioned that it was a possible solution. So really, how bad will the side effects be for an otherwise healthy individual? Also, I am worried that with my anxiety I will not be able to differentiate my usual anxiety symptoms and the potentially dangerous side effects of Combivir. Will I be able to tell the difference?
Finally, what are my risk factors for this type of exposure?
Thanks!
I am a 24yr old, 6'1'', 210lb male that is currently on Celexa for anxiety (Go figure!) I also have thalassemia minor.
Last night (around 15-20 hours ago) I had unprotected sex vaginal sex with a woman whom I did not know well. AFTER sex, she so kindly informed me that her ex-bf (whom she had sexual encounters with) was a heroin user (in central Ohio)who used needles. She told me that he didn't have HIV or share needles. But honestly, I don't care what she says because I can't prove it. And to top it off, during intercourse it became evident that she was on her period.
I just went to the clinic and was prescribed Combivir, twice daily. I am worried about the side effects mainly- I asked the pharmacist and he wasn't too sure and I actually informed my prescribing doctor about the PEP regime, who didn't know about it until I mentioned that it was a possible solution. So really, how bad will the side effects be for an otherwise healthy individual? Also, I am worried that with my anxiety I will not be able to differentiate my usual anxiety symptoms and the potentially dangerous side effects of Combivir. Will I be able to tell the difference?
Finally, what are my risk factors for this type of exposure?
Thanks!
hahaha!
Combivir causes anemia. Thalassemia Minor is a type of anemia. This is how it applies. Sorry I had to connect the dots...
Combivir causes anemia. Thalassemia Minor is a type of anemia. This is how it applies. Sorry I had to connect the dots...
Taking those drugs is not 100% sure to protect you from not being infected with HIV thus will only create other serious illnesses.
I perfectly agree with joggen. Taking those drugs is not 100% sure to protect you from being infected with HIV thus will only create other serious illnesses. You might want to have a look at this link ( http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/insite?page=ask-01-04-13 ). Hope it helps.
The odds of your experiencing a serious side effect are much higher than than the chance that you caught HIV from a one-time heterosexual exposure of unknown status. If I were in your situation I would not be on PEP.
Yes, thank you. Obviously the test will give you an answer. I'm more interested in initial treatment.
Combivir has been known to be highly effective within the 1st 12-24 hours. Of course it isn't a sure shot but it is a great defense.
And your info about side effects are wrong I think- 75% is too high. I think it is more like 25-30%.
Combivir has been known to be highly effective within the 1st 12-24 hours. Of course it isn't a sure shot but it is a great defense.
And your info about side effects are wrong I think- 75% is too high. I think it is more like 25-30%.
"I do not think I contracted the virus but I am taking this medication as a backup to make sure." No one knows for sure that PEP or any drugs will work to prevent HIV after potential exposure. The test is the the only one will gives you a concrete answer of your status. Almost three-quarters of people who took that meds stopped due to the side=effects associated which is the fatigue and nausea. I'm not an expert nor a doctor but I think taking drugs to prevent on HIV is not a good thing to do.
Also, does my thalassemia minor have any bearing on whether I should continue this drug? Anyone know?
Thank you Joggen for your insightful response. Statistics are always helpful in situations like these to calm the mind, however I am not one to take a risk such as this.
I did do some research on the drug and it seems to be effective to some degree (80% in clinical trials) but obviously the side effects are what scare me. I already am feeling dizzy with headaches. Liver failure and kidney failure are rare but again, as I stated above, I'm not one to mess with the odds of probability.
I do not think I contracted the virus but I am taking this medication as a backup to make sure. Hopefully, everything will turn out OK and certainly learned a lot.
I did do some research on the drug and it seems to be effective to some degree (80% in clinical trials) but obviously the side effects are what scare me. I already am feeling dizzy with headaches. Liver failure and kidney failure are rare but again, as I stated above, I'm not one to mess with the odds of probability.
I do not think I contracted the virus but I am taking this medication as a backup to make sure. Hopefully, everything will turn out OK and certainly learned a lot.
The situations that always warrant PEP are occupational exposures to HIV infected blood, and unprotected sex with somebody confirmed to have HIV. While doctors have discretion to prescribe PEP in other situations, individual risk is always weighed against the potential for serious side effects. You can easily differentiate the 'serious' side effects of PEP from anxiety because if you are so unfortunate to experience them you would be very sick and would be seeking treatment for liver or kidney failure.
I am quite surprised that you were prescribed PEP in this situation, mainly because you don't know whether your partner had HIV. She was not an IV drug abuser- her boyfriend was- and it isn't clear to what extent this would have placed her at greater risk or not. Even if we assume the chance that she had HIV was more than 100 times greater than the average US female, this would still be less than 1 in 10, and when you factor in a 1 in 2000 average chance of transmission, your risk would be no higher than 1 in 20,000- roughly equivalent to the chance that you will get hit by lightning in your lifetime.
If you want to learn more about Combivir, I'm sure the prescribing information is available over the Internet, where you can find all the side effects from mild to severe and their frequencies.
I am quite surprised that you were prescribed PEP in this situation, mainly because you don't know whether your partner had HIV. She was not an IV drug abuser- her boyfriend was- and it isn't clear to what extent this would have placed her at greater risk or not. Even if we assume the chance that she had HIV was more than 100 times greater than the average US female, this would still be less than 1 in 10, and when you factor in a 1 in 2000 average chance of transmission, your risk would be no higher than 1 in 20,000- roughly equivalent to the chance that you will get hit by lightning in your lifetime.
If you want to learn more about Combivir, I'm sure the prescribing information is available over the Internet, where you can find all the side effects from mild to severe and their frequencies.
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