wood
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Everything posted by wood
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I just set an alarm on my cellphone at a time when I am almost always certain to be up, and have the medication with me. Its never been an issue. I agree with what you are saying about adherence. For maximum protection it needs to be taken consistently at the same time. However remember, after the data was crunched from all US studies, they still found an over 90% protection rate from the equivalent of 4x a week, or every other day. Which does make sense. Remember PeP can be taken up 72 hours after exposure, although as we all know its better to take it ASAP. That being said, anyone who is on PrEP or thinking about it should make it a point to take it everyday at the same time. Why half ass it if you want the protection?
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Of course. However it still drastically reduces the chance of infection.
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The overcautiousness stems from the fact that drugs can and do cause harm, sometimes after market introduction. Thalidomide, and Vioxx come to mind immediately. However, I agree that PrEP should be available sooner considering its already in use for HIV patients. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_withdrawn_drugs And I agree with you, IMO there always should be a good discussion in mixed status situations, especially when not using protection.
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After reading about PrEP more, I have to say I somewhat disagree with what I wrote here before. IMO the risk is probably less, on the magnitude of less than .5%. The iPrEX study was quite broad and also included injection drug users some of which would have direct blood contact with HIV. Still no one in the study who always had the proper medication levels in their bloodstream converted during the test. As long as you continued taking the medication consistently before and after the event, I would bet your are fine. that being said, I am also quite confident you probably picked up some other STI. As I have stated before, PrEP is NOT a magic bullet. It is however remarkably effective against transmission, when taken properly. I am no epidemiologist or virologist, but as a sheer guess the only way I could see infection taking place is if someone in the group is very drug resistant to the drugs in Truvada. I could see theoretically how that could result in transmission, however I have no idea if thats true or not.
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I would go on it ASAP. My simple logic is that I would rather take something to prevent a problem than to treat a problem. HIV is a bitch, despite what some say in here, and if I can drastically decrease my odds of infection, then Im going to do so.
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Well you are mostly incorrect. PrEP taken correctly is roughly 99% effective in preventing HIV transmission. PrEP simply makes it that the HIV virus cant infect, and gain a foothold in your body. The medication prevents the virus from infecting and replicating. If it cannot replicate, the immune system is eventually able to kill the copies that may have got into the body through exposure. This is also why consistent dosing is so important. Say you take it on weekends and go to a bathhouse, then think you dont need it during the week. When the drug levels drop enough, your immune system may not be able to fight off those virus copies that are in your system because they are starting to replicate, then you become infected. But, if you are consistent with taking it, the virus copies are eventually destroyed by the immune system. Its kind of the same reason why HIV transmission is nowhere near 100% even with exposure. Your body can fight off small exposures, its when it reaches a critical mass with number of virus copies, or if someone has a compromised immune system (IE a cold) that infection becomes easier. In terms of HIV transmission it is. When you consider condom failure rates, if PrEP is taken everyday as directed, its actually more effective, no condom can boast a 99% non failure rate in real world usage. However it must be noted that PrEP does nothing against any other STI's.
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As much as you may want it, if he doesn't, then its not your call. Also are you sure he's on PrEP? it says you are in Austraila, and PrEP isnt approved there yet as far as I know.
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If you didn't experience it in the first few days I doubt it related to PrEP. Some people are more regular than others, but getting the shits isnt uncommon and can have tons of reasons. I personally haven't and havent had one side effect from PrEP. (knock on wood)
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If for some reason you still doubt PrEP. read this... (New Yorker article)
wood replied to wood's topic in PrEP Discussion
Right at the top of the page. -
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/elements/2013/10/the-battle-over-truvada-and-the-first-treatment-to-prevent-hiv.html On the efficacy of Truvada as PrEP: On Truvada's side effects: I agree they are peobably trying to minimize side effects in the article, but it does prove a point, that taking PrEP even for an extended period of time is still much better than HIV, or any number of other drugs. Read the entire article though, its actually amazing how effective PrEP is in preventing HIV. When you account for condom breakage and misuse, its MUCH more effective at preventing HIV than condoms are.
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Looks like women may get a lower-dose PrEP vaginal ring
wood replied to rawTOP's topic in PrEP Discussion
This needs to be fast tracked for use in Africa ASAP. While female to male transmission in the US is somewhat rare, in places with lower hygiene levels, it is much more common. This could not only drastically reduce infection levels for woman, but also the men they have sex with. -
So I have a question about risk for guys on PrEP, or good knowledge about exposure risk. As most know the stats say it can be up to 99% effective if it is taken correctly, but my question is a bit more involved. It has also been proven that guys who are undetectable also have a much lower risk of transmission to their partners, regardless of their sexual role. While there is some controversy about it, its still accepted that bottoming carries a higher risk of infection than topping. So here is the situation that I personally found myself in the other day. For the first time since I have been on PrEP, I ended up having unprotected sex with a man who is undetectable. We have a flip session where we both ejaculated in each other twice. For me, I am exact about when I take my PrEP meds, and the guy said he was clean and undetectable at his last checkup, so is there anyway to quantify my risk beyond what I'm guessing is very low? I'm asking this out of curiosity more than anything. I'm not freaked out by the situation, and this is one of the reasons I am glad I started PrEP, also I think i actually may like the guy, so I would be curious about long term risk also.
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HIV doesn't free anyone... quite the contrary it keeps the person chained to medication for the rest of their life, or they die. pick one. FWIW, I dont tell anyone what decision to make, but PrEP is a GREAT option for men who dont always use protection and who at least want to try and stay neg.
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If you are HIV negative, you may way to SERIOUSLY consider PrEP before you get in too deep, and get stuff you may not want like HIV. Theres a forum here for information on it.
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EXACTLY! if you are nervous have a drink or something, but get the test done. Most major pharmacies have the oraquick test. Get out and do it now and depending on how far away your local pharmacy is, you can be done within 45 mins. The test itself only takes 20 mins for results. http://www.oraquick.com/ Food for thought: When I was 18 I had a broken condom experience when a guy was fucking me. I freaked out, and let it eat me up, and make me a nervous wreck for three years until I finally had the balls to go when I was 21. I was fine, but i could have spent all that nervous energy on something productive, and not needless worry. Now because Im a sexually active gay man I go every three months like all sexually active MSM should. If you are straight well, you can go less, but freaking out is NOT helping you. No matter what the outcome knowing will help you.
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Not to be rude, but there really is nothing anyone on here can tell you. You need to get tested yourself even though it may be hard mentally to face it. It seems to me you are looking for validation on here that you are neg, and no one on here, or really anywhere can give you any decent answer without at least an HIV test. Go get tested, no matter what the result its not the end of the world.
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So for the first time since I started PrEP, I had a hookup where hopefully it helped me. last week I hooked up with a regular fuck buddy, but i have always topped him before. Hes a really sexy toned mid 20's light skin black guy. So while while he is mostly a bottom, he has a really nice thick dick on him that's always rock hard. I was in a bottoming mood, so I hit him up and went over to his place. I knew I wanted fucked, but even with the PrEP, I usually don't let guys nut in me. Anyway he starts, and damn if he isn't one of the best tops I have ever felt. He then gave me some poppers which i normally hate, but this time it sent me over the edge, and I was in heaven. He fucked me for a good 25 mins and ended up nutting in me three times in that time span!! We passed out, but i woke up hard in the middle of the night so I fucked him then. When the sun came up, I woke up and fucked him again. After some light breakfast and TV despite being sore I had him fuck me again because it felt so good the night before, and it was just as good the second time. All in all it was one of the hottest sex sessions I have had in years. Now in regards to PrEP. He kinda seems like a dont ask dont tell kind of guy. The first time we hooked up i told him i was neg, and recently tested. He said that he was too, but it didnt seem very convincing. Also the first time we met we were just planning to mess around and yet he ended up wanting me to fuck him, never said a word about a condom and specifically told me to nut in him. So I have my doubts as to his "neg" status. That being said I took my Truvada first thing in the AM just like always when i was with him that morning. :-)
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PEP does it keep you safe during the month you take it ?
wood replied to Scottyrim's topic in HIV Risk & Risk Reduction
Yes, it most likely would. That being said PEP is also usually a cocktail of medications whereas PrEP is just Truvada. Lots of people have side effects with PEP treatment. -
Im almost certain you are neg. Go to your local drug store and pick up am oraquick test to be sure.
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just went for my three month checkup. Got bloodwork done, but no results for a few days. Still neg as expected, partially because of the PrEP, also because I haven't been having that much sex now that the summer is over.
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to the OP, any updates?
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how do you feel if told youve likely pozzed somebody
wood replied to a topic in What's It Like To Be Poz?
Im neg, but i would feel the same way. I also have a friend who unknowingly pozzed his BF last year. He is really messed up in the head about it to this day, even after a year. I would never want that feeling on my conscience. I think its important to note that while its just an opinion, I don't think the vast majority of people want to inflict HIV on anyone else. One of the reasons my one ex and I broke up was because he was somewhat flippant about the risk I was taking having unprotected sex with him. While he was undetectable and on meds he still wanted to breed me, to which I shut that down. All that being said, if there is complete open and honest communication, and the person wants that risk, so be it. People are free to make their own decisions. One caveat for me on that would be someone like an 18 year old bug chaser. IMO they just are not old enough to know what they are getting into. -
I think the big question is what is your current HIV status? No matter what IMO everyone who is neg, should try to stay neg, though whatever they deem nessisary. If you are neg, and play raw, I would go on PrEP. From what I have read so far, it should not have much of an impact. the main reason is that HIV treatment is largely already covered by the government because of cost reasons. Even private insurance would be unable to cover the medication cost. The main crux of the affordable care act, and why Im really not a fan even as a liberal person is that all it really does is make people that dont have insurance buy it. Without the public option plan its really a pretty shitty bill IMO. There are more than a few people with private health insurance now that still get their ARV's through subsidised plans. I havent looked at the plans avaliable, but Im sure while aperson who is poz wont be denied becuase they cant do that now, the cost would still be astronomical.
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[iBLASTinside] Plan T: Make Truvada Available OTC
wood replied to iBLASTinside's topic in Bareback Bloggers
I am a huge proponent of PrEP, and even I don't think it should be OTC. The United States in general have a huge over reliance on drugs, both OTC and prescription. Its not a great idea to play home doctor and take whatever you feel like without consulting a doctor. Tylenol is a perfect example of this. Tylenol usage is one of the main causes of liver failure in the US because people assume its safe. Yet even exceeding the box dosage by as little as 2 weeks in some cases have produced significantly elevated liver function (precursor to liver failure) in some people. A good family friend had that when she went in for a knee replacement. She could't tolerate opioids so she use a high dose of tylenol as her doctor reccomended. She was on that for 3 weeks and was on the verge of liver failure for 1.5 years afterwards. People should NOT be taking drugs as a crutch for everything in their life. I still support PrEP however because it can prevent a very serious illness that can cause people to need medication for the rest of their My ideal PrEP scenario is something like this. I would like to see it be availiable from a pharmacist, not just a doctor. So you could go into any pharmacy, say you want to go on prep, you take an oraquick test, and then you get your script. With that said I would REALLY like to see a weekly or monthly version of PrEP in the future if it turns out to be something that really works. One of the major issues with PrEP's efficay right now is taking it on a regular basis. A Once a week pill, or hell once a month injection would take care of much of those problems. In reality i dont see once a month anytime soon, but I think once a week may be possible. -
Thats where you are wrong, The data is actually very conclusive, which is why the FDA green lit for PrEP usage. You may be confusing the Truvada PrEP studies with the earlier tenofovir only PrEP studies. In those studies there actually was a quite a bit of variance in the outcomes. The Truvada iprex studies were exactly the opposite, it was shown to be in the 96-99% effectiveness range with proper adherence. Adherence is the BIGGEST factor with PrEP. It MUST be taken everyday, and you should try to take it at the same time everyday.