What happens if you take PrEP and have HIV?

It’s really unlikely you’ll get HIV if you’re using PrEP consistently. But if you do happen to get HIV while using PrEP, it’s important for your health to stop using PrEP right away. PrEP is not a treatment for HIV — in fact, taking PrEP when you have HIV can actually make the virus harder to treat.

Does Truvada make your hair fall out?

Can Truvada Cause Hair Loss? Some HIV medications may be linked to hair loss. For example, indinavir and lamivudine are two drugs with reports of hair loss. However, there have been no clinical trials or postmarketing reports that link Truvada to hair loss.

Does Truvada cause tooth decay?

Gilead Sciences’ anti-HIV medication Truvada® contains tenofovir (TDF), a drug that is linked to severe side effects like kidney failure, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and broken bones.

Can Truvada increase liver enzymes?

What are the likely side effects? The most common side effects seen in the studies of Truvada as PrEP include headache, nausea, vomiting, rash and loss of appetite. In some people, tenofovir can increase creatinine and transaminases. These are enzymes related to the kidneys and liver.

How long does Truvada stay in your system after stopping?

Truvada stays in your system for about a week after you stop taking it. The main ingredient in Truvada, the HIV prophylaxis drug, typically has a half-life of more than six days, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

How toxic is Truvada?

Yes. Truvada is a medication that has been used for PrEP for more than seven years, and for HIV treatment for nearly 20 years. Although Truvada can cause side effects in some people, generally such side effects are mild. The reports characterizing Truvada as “highly toxic” are false.

What is a common side effect of Truvada?

In clinical studies for TRUVADA for PrEP, the most common side effects were headache, abdominal pain, and weight loss.

What does Truvada do to your body?

Truvada works by blocking an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which HIV uses to copy its genetic material and reproduce. In addition to suppressing HIV in people who have already been infected, Truvada can also prevent the virus from infecting people in the first place.

Is Truvada bad for kidneys?

Taken together, these studies indicate that Truvada is safe and well-tolerated for most people using it for PrEP, but kidney problems – usually mild or moderate – may occur in a small proportion of people, especially if they have other risk factors.