4 ms·

This is why PrEP is so important and everyone at risk should be on it. We need to spread PrEP use as far and wide as possible.

by tuxxy 7y ago

AJ007 7y ago
I don’t know enough about this, but if there is drug-resistant HIV couldn’t this affect PREP?
- chimeracoder 7y ago
  > I don’t know enough about this, but if there is drug-resistant HIV couldn’t this affect PREP? The resistance in this article is to efavirenz and nevirapine, neither of which is used in PrEP. They're not even in the same class of drugs - both are NNRTIs, whereas PrEP consists of two NRTIs (in a single pill).
roel_v 7y ago
I know nothing about this topic and I'll admit that I even had to google what 'PrEP' is, and I have a vague feeling I'm stepping into a minefield asking this question, but who is "everyone at risk" in this context?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- Geimfari 7y ago
  That would be men-who-have-sex-with-men, those with infected partners, sex workers, and intravenous drug users. That is a fairly large number of the population that would be placed on an expensive drug with several side effects.
  - nerdjon 7y ago
    I would honestly just say anyone that is not in a monogamous relationship. Straight men/women can easily have it and one fuckup and you can be infected
    - luckylion 7y ago
      > Straight men/women can easily have it and one fuckup and you can be infected The probability is low though, and apparently there are side effects. We also don't preemptively dish out antibiotics for similar reasons: they won't do you any good unless under very specific circumstances and you will likely experience side-effects. Do no harm.
      - nerdjon 7y ago
        yes there are side effects. But the plan for prep also specifically includes you going into the doctor every 3 months to not only test for those side effects but also for a full STD panel. (Source: my husband and me are both on prep) Just saying that "at risk" people should be trying to prevent this ignores a large portion of the population to try to stop its spread. Thankfully a vaccine is in testing now, but if this was a vaccine most people would probably not question taking it. So why is a pill to protect against something like HIV so much different?
        luckylion 7y ago
        My point was that "at risk" means "seriously at risk", not "well, you are theoretically at risk, so better safe than sorry". If you're statistically not very likely to be infected, the side effects may outweigh the good. > if this was a vaccine most people would probably not question taking it Doctors would, or so I hope, not recommend taking a vaccine with serious side-effects without a reason. You typically don't get vaccinated for Dengue fever when traveling to Helsinki.
        nerdjon 7y ago
        I can agree with that. Maybe I should rephrase that, anyone in not in a monogamous relationship (and having sex) should at least discuss it with their Doctor and see if it would be worth them being on. I find it shocking when I am talking to someone and find out they have no idea that prep even exists.

This is why PrEP is so important and everyone at risk should be on it. We need to spread PrEP use as far and wide as possible.

by tuxxy 7y ago

This is why PrEP is so important and everyone at risk should be on it. We need to spread PrEP use as far and wide as possible.

AJ007 7y ago

I don’t know enough about this, but if there is drug-resistant HIV couldn’t this affect PREP?

chimeracoder 7y ago
> I don’t know enough about this, but if there is drug-resistant HIV couldn’t this affect PREP? The resistance in this article is to efavirenz and nevirapine, neither of which is used in PrEP. They're not even in the same class of drugs - both are NNRTIs, whereas PrEP consists of two NRTIs (in a single pill).

roel_v 7y ago

I know nothing about this topic and I'll admit that I even had to google what 'PrEP' is, and I have a vague feeling I'm stepping into a minefield asking this question, but who is "everyone at risk" in this context?

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
Geimfari 7y ago
That would be men-who-have-sex-with-men, those with infected partners, sex workers, and intravenous drug users. That is a fairly large number of the population that would be placed on an expensive drug with several side effects.
- nerdjon 7y ago
  I would honestly just say anyone that is not in a monogamous relationship. Straight men/women can easily have it and one fuckup and you can be infected
  - luckylion 7y ago
    > Straight men/women can easily have it and one fuckup and you can be infected The probability is low though, and apparently there are side effects. We also don't preemptively dish out antibiotics for similar reasons: they won't do you any good unless under very specific circumstances and you will likely experience side-effects. Do no harm.
    - nerdjon 7y ago
      yes there are side effects. But the plan for prep also specifically includes you going into the doctor every 3 months to not only test for those side effects but also for a full STD panel. (Source: my husband and me are both on prep) Just saying that "at risk" people should be trying to prevent this ignores a large portion of the population to try to stop its spread. Thankfully a vaccine is in testing now, but if this was a vaccine most people would probably not question taking it. So why is a pill to protect against something like HIV so much different?
      - luckylion 7y ago
        My point was that "at risk" means "seriously at risk", not "well, you are theoretically at risk, so better safe than sorry". If you're statistically not very likely to be infected, the side effects may outweigh the good. > if this was a vaccine most people would probably not question taking it Doctors would, or so I hope, not recommend taking a vaccine with serious side-effects without a reason. You typically don't get vaccinated for Dengue fever when traveling to Helsinki.
        nerdjon 7y ago
        I can agree with that. Maybe I should rephrase that, anyone in not in a monogamous relationship (and having sex) should at least discuss it with their Doctor and see if it would be worth them being on. I find it shocking when I am talking to someone and find out they have no idea that prep even exists.