What happens if you take Truvada and have HIV?

If you have HIV-1, you need to take other medicines with TRUVADA to treat HIV-1. TRUVADA by itself is not a complete treatment for HIV-1. If you have HIV-1 and take only TRUVADA, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat now and over time.

What are the side effects of PrEP HIV?

PrEP is safe but some people experience side effects like diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, and stomach pain. These side effects usually go away over time. Tell your health care provider about any side effects that are severe or do not go away. Learn more about side effects from the Truvada® and Descovy® .

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 are the long-term side effects of PrEP?

Possible long-term side effects include loss of bone mineral density and kidney damage. Some people worry that people taking PrEP might think they are totally protected. They might be less careful about their sexual behavior.

Does PrEP weaken your immune system?

Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV does not affect the immune response, for the good or the bad. CD4+ T cell maturation and HIV-specific immune responses in PrEP and placebo groups.

Can you test positive on PrEP?

The presence of antiretrovirals may suppress the immune response and the production of antibodies. Rapid tests and self-tests should not be used to confirm HIV infection in people taking HIV treatment. In the case of repeatedly indeterminate test results in a PrEP or PEP user, seek expert guidance.

Can PrEP make you gain weight?

When used by people who are HIV-negative for PrEP, Descovy may cause a small amount of weight gain—or at least may not prevent normal weight gain as happens with Truvada. This is the case for cisgender men and possibly trans women (Descovy has not been studied for PrEP in transmasculine people or cisgender women).

Does PrEP cause fatigue?

It is generally safe, but like all medication, it can have side effects in some people. Some of these side effects are usually experienced during the first few weeks of taking the drug only. These include nausea, tiredness, gastrointestinal symptoms and headache. Occasionally, it can affect the kidneys or bones.

Will Truvada make me fat?

Weight loss Some drugs used to treat HIV have been found to cause changes in body mass, including body fat. Some of these drugs have also been found to affect lipids (certain types of fat in your body), such as cholesterol. However, a study found that Truvada doesn’t seem to cause changes in body fat or lipids.

Can you drink while taking Truvada?

Antiretroviral medications, including Truvada, do not interact with alcohol, so there is no concern from a drug interaction perspective. There would be a concern if you are drinking to excess and might miss your dose of Truvada or, under the influence of alcohol, engage in higher risk sex.

How long does PrEP last 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.

Does PrEP make you gain weight?