Prep frequency

[UnsureAboutThis]

I tried Truvada and Descovy and have had bad reactions to them. Basically every side effect they list, I get with a vengeance. I'm finding that I really want to take a poz load just to experience it. I know the chance of me getting pozzed in a single (maybe 2) loads in minimal but what if I find I like taking poz cock. So I'm thinking of trying prep again but doing it 3 times a week to see if I can tolerate that. My question is, is prep effective if I'm only taking half of the prescribed dosage?

[RubberAustria]

Hi!
Try to take it daily for two weeks than all the side effects should be gone. Many people have that problem. I know guys who had that problem, too.
 I read a study that if you take it every second day the protection is around 70%- it is a possibility for people how can not afford Prep. 
good luck

[Rillion]

Unless you immediately started having the issues with it causing kidney and or liver damage, I would try toughing it out and seeing if as mentioned above the minor side effects fade. 

Also something to consider, the two drugs in PrEP are also part of the common triple drug regime to treat HIV once someone is infected. So if you can't tolerate PrEP, it would be a really bad idea to risk getting HIV since you would be looking at having to take the same or similar drugs that you do not tolerate well in order to keep your immune system from disappearing over time. 

Also the main alternative dosing that while not approved but appears to be fairly effective is the 2-1-1 schedule. Which is take two doses 24 hours before you are going to have sex, then one dose the next two days. Generally it seems to be pretty effective you need to have 4 doses absorbed into your system within 48 hours of exposure and your system clears them pretty quickly. From what I read you need to be taking at least 5 doses a week regularly. So every other day is unlikely to have enough on your system to really effective and it could potentially lead to helping develop a strain that is resistant to the drugs in PrEP. 

Edited yesterday at 07:51 AM by Rillion

[Chuckybb]

I don't know what others think but as someone who has been on prep for about 5 years, I must have taken dozens of poz loads.  Tbh it's not something I even think about.  So, is knowingly taking a poz load purely a  psychological pleasure? Because there is no physical differences as far as I'm concerned.  I love that prep has taken the status question out of the picture for me.  All I can say on total honesty is that if you are about to fuck me and give me your load, then for that moment you are my god and I will worship you like one until that load is inside me.  And after, the process starts all over again.

Edited yesterday at 10:41 AM by Chuckybb

[UnsureAboutThis]

I'm thinking that I may try the 2-1-1 method. I can put up with side effects for a few  days when I know I'm going to have risky sex. It's not just the diarrhea, headaches, rash, sleep disturbances that prep induces in me, it also throws my kidney values way off.  So with all of this in mind, I'm thinking of just going without prep and taking a couple of poz loads just for the experience. I know the risk factor is low with that so I think that's probably my best bet.

[polyglutton]

I had side effects with Truvada for the first month when I started in 2014, afterwords they went away entirely. The symptoms had been loose stool and feeling worn down. Hang in there and keep taking it, and it might just be fine. 

[UnsureAboutThis]

I've taken it for up to 26 days but was having headaches, nausea, diarrhea, night sweats, sleep disturbances, various rashes so I decided to just stop taking it and all of those cleared up pretty quickly. I went in and talked to my doctor. They did a blood draw and found my kidney values way off so he advised me not to take anymore until we could figure out a better course of action. 

[UnsureAboutThis]

I think I may be one of those people who just cannot take prep. This has been my challenge with trying to figure out how I can take a poz load just to see what it's like and still stay safe as possible. 

[blackrobe]

57 minutes ago, UnsureAboutThis said:

I've taken it for up to 26 days but was having headaches, nausea, diarrhea, night sweats, sleep disturbances, various rashes so I decided to just stop taking it and all of those cleared up pretty quickly. I went in and talked to my doctor. They did a blood draw and found my kidney values way off so he advised me not to take anymore until we could figure out a better course of action. 

The poor kidney numbers need you to stop. As a rule, Descovy is a better choice for its lower dose of the med that affects the kidneys. I wonder if the implanted prep medication might be better for you?

[viking8x6]

This is one of the reasons they developed the new injectable alternative (which is also available in oral form). It's a completely different drug class, so the side effect profile and its interaction with your body chemistry will be totally different. Check it out.

[UnsureAboutThis]

Thanks for all the advice. I'll have to check it out and also check if my health insurance will cover it. They often will not cover the newer (non-generic) formulations. 

[DevilDawg]

I see Viking8x6 already answered my answer as I scrolled through, I will add that my initial PEP treatment after I was zoned out in St Louis caused quite a gastro sleighride about 9 years ago. I've been on injectable PREP since the start of this (2025) year with no oscillations and no ill effects. I used to be a safe puppy but started raw since I am an old fuck, this was before AIDS, but in the military getting Gono or Syph up the ass was a career ender as well as a legal rights termination issue. Injectable regimen usually dictates testing and injection every 2 months. I have lost many loved ones and friends to AIDS and Toxic complications and I wage war all the time to not hurry to join them simply because I know many of them would be pissed off and I would never hear the end of in the afterlife. The periodic testing which is more frequent is to avoid breeding a super strain.  However, in my fantasies, being host mother to a super strain is something I'll just leave in print as opposed to active practice and experimentation. Still - it does get me wet. There is no way I could fit into a Sigourney Weaver jumpsuit, so I have no current plans to be the next Typhoid Mary. However, if it happens, it happens and those dreams are phenomenal!

[DevilDawg]

Look on the local ATONS MC group page for charities they support and resources in the area, there are likely more, but these are the ones I know that are definitely local to you.

[UnsureAboutThis]

I'm currently not on any prep or other meds so all my kidney numbers are in the normal range. I'm healthy and happy with the exception of the strong desire to take at least one poz load just to have the experience. 

[hntnhole]

16 hours ago, UnsureAboutThis said:

prep effective if I'm only taking half of the prescribed dosage?

I'm no doctor, but why bother in the first place if you're not planning on the recommended dosage?  Same goes for Pep.  

Of course it won't be as effective.