Descovy as PrEP Study

[justsexnowatl]

10 days ago I started in Gilead's Discover study for the drug Descovy as a new PrEP drug.  There are 5,000 men in the study.  I haven't seen anyone else on here that's mentioned it and wondering if there are any others.  It's a "sister" drug of Truvada with a change in the concentration of the active ingredients to reduce long term side effects regarding bone density and kidney function.  Many (most) poz guys on Truvada have been switched over to Descovy I believe.  It's not currently approved as PrEP which is why it has to be studied, and I'll be in the study group for about 2.5 years.  There's a 50/50 chance I'm on the test drug, or the placebo which is Truvada.  Kind of wondering what to call my "status" on bbrt and other hookup sites.  I changed it to Neg + Other on bbrt.  Might put "ask me" instead.  Don't really wanna do something that will decrease my chances of hooking up, but I'm pretty upfront and all about repeat fuckbuds and building some trust.  I plan to be a good test subject and not change my sex habits.  Anyone else on it?

[Johnny84]

i am also on this trail and i have just put on bbrt thats i'm neg on prep whats your getting is one prep pill which is tenofovir and one tick tac tenofovir well i know 2 people who have been taking that for the past 2 years and have been barebacking and still neg so i'm happy to tell guys i'm on prep 

[drscorpio]

I think you are still telling the truth if you say Neg+PrEP. The fact that you might be on a different PrEP medication does not change the fact that you are on PrEP. PrEP is not equal to Truvada. 

[justsexnowatl]

11 hours ago, drscorpio said:

I think you are still telling the truth if you say Neg+PrEP. The fact that you might be on a different PrEP medication does not change the fact that you are on PrEP. PrEP is not equal to Truvada. 

Yeah, I guess what I'm thinking is that since it's not proven effective yet (that's what the 2+ year study is for), I might be taking something that's not effective.  There's no doubt a lot of neg barebackers seek out PrEP guys to fuck with since they feel "protected" - truth is they don't know if someone is lying about it or if they're really taking it daily, but it makes them feel better.  I might change it back to PrEP but put some info in the written part about what I'm on for "full disclosure" if anyone reads the written stuff lol.  I really don't want to do anything that will reduce my chances of a hot fuck!!

[bootmandc]

On 5/5/2017 at 6:24 AM, justsexnowatl said:

 There's a 50/50 chance I'm on the test drug, or the placebo which is Truvada.  

Wondering - So the situation is you are on EITHER the new drug or Truvada as placebo, but either way you are arguably on a Prep med right?  And your concern is the potential increased risk if, in fact, on the new drug because it is still in the process of being proven, right?  

Non-med brain here just trying to stay current.  

[justsexnowatl]

13 minutes ago, bootmandc said:

Wondering - So the situation is you are on EITHER the new drug or Truvada as placebo, but either way you are arguably on a Prep med right?  And your concern is the potential increased risk if, in fact, on the new drug because it is still in the process of being proven, right?  

Non-med brain here just trying to stay current.  

That's exactly right.  I take two pills each morning.  Both in plain bottles - one looks like Truvada and one looks like Descovy, but only one is real and the other is a tic tac pill like the other guy stated.  The doctor doesn't know which one I'm on either, only the masterminds lol.  And I answer questions on an ipad each time.  Only thing they care about so far is how many partners have I topped raw and how many partners have I bottomed raw since the last appointment.  I guess they will stop the study early if guys are converting on Descovy but not on Truvada.  

I decided to take part for a couple reasons.  It's potentially increasing my risk, but when I first started Truvada I actually hesitated due to the long term possible side effects of decreased bone density and kidney function, and those are exactly what the new drug deals with.  So I actually kind of hope I'm on the new drug.  I'm fairly obsessed with my health, but sex is (and always has been) my vice of choice :).  I'm not on ANY medicine at all except Viagra and PrEP and blood work is pretty perfect, so my doctor visits are pretty much always sex related - hiv tests and the occassional stds

Other factor is my copay.  It has now increased to $407 per month for Truvada (25% of retail price), so by August I'll use up the full $3,000 from Gilead assistance, and I'd have to pay $407 per month plus $85 doctor copay.  On this, everything is covered, plus I even get $43 each visit for participating   If I end up poz I guess I'll wish I hadn't been cheap about it, but damn - I remember when sex was free - at least I've been enjoying a much sleazier sex life the last few years lol.

[SoCalBBversbttm]

I actually brought this up in a different thread earlier this year.  Long term PrEP user.  My Dr. ( who is an infectious disease specialist as well as an internist) is handling part of the study for Gilead.  I am candid with him over my sea life and how many partners I have monthly.  He has treated me for a, ahem, few STD's.  He knew that I was on another PrEP study three years ago and asked me to participate.  I mentioned this on a thread here and there was some general concern.  You are correct that it is approved for JIV Truvada users.  They don't know the efficacy as a PrEP alternative.  The make up of the new drug has changed so that a large portion of the drugs are not naturally cleared by the body before being effective, so the new makeup has the same amount of the drug but is ,ore effective and at a lower dosage.      There is lees of the drug in the Anal area.  I was all gung ho to start the study, but then realized that you are putting yourself at a greater risk with unknown efficacy versus the tried and true Truvada.  Given the number of partners I have and that 95% of the time I bottom and get loaded, I decided against taking the risk. It is a great study, just not for me.  For those guys who miss the risk of bar back with out PrEP.  This is an ideal study for you.  

[rawfuckr]

On 5/5/2017 at 0:24 PM, justsexnowatl said:

10 days ago I started in Gilead's Discover study for the drug Descovy as a new PrEP drug.  There are 5,000 men in the study.  I haven't seen anyone else on here that's mentioned it and wondering if there are any others.  It's a "sister" drug of Truvada with a change in the concentration of the active ingredients to reduce long term side effects regarding bone density and kidney function.  Many (most) poz guys on Truvada have been switched over to Descovy I believe.  It's not currently approved as PrEP which is why it has to be studied, and I'll be in the study group for about 2.5 years.  There's a 50/50 chance I'm on the test drug, or the placebo which is Truvada.  Kind of wondering what to call my "status" on bbrt and other hookup sites.  I changed it to Neg + Other on bbrt.  Might put "ask me" instead.  Don't really wanna do something that will decrease my chances of hooking up, but I'm pretty upfront and all about repeat fuckbuds and building some trust.  I plan to be a good test subject and not change my sex habits.  Anyone else on it?

I guess your status should be "Neg+PrEP*" with an explanatory *, but given that's not available "Neg+PrEP" should do. Descovy seems to be pretty protective at least from animal models, so you are definitely on some sort of PrEP. Also, PrEP also signifies recurrent STD checking and treatment which you will be getting fully. This is assuming you are on the Descovy arm. 

Edited May 8, 2017 by rawfuckr

[markys38]

Hello

 

I am on the same study as you.  How you getting on? 

[justsexnowatl]

On 5/8/2017 at 1:50 PM, markys38 said:

Hello

 

I am on the same study as you.  How you getting on? 

I've been taking the "study" pills for 2 weeks now - zero side effects, but I never had any from the original truvada either.  For all I know I'm still on the same drug.  Starting Jan 1st I purposely slowed my sex life down since I was feeling too obsessive last fall and hooking up almost every day.  I cut back to about once a week fucks  cold turkey and fewer groups and anon stuff.  Between spring time raising my libido and wanting to be a good test subject I've notched it back up part way.  In the past two weeks I've topped 6 guys and bottomed for 3 (2 loads received anally) and swapped head and cum orally with one regular.  One of those bottom loads was a flip breeding.  So I guess it's safe to say I am not changing my sex habits while on the study for the next 2-3 years