PEP therapy / PrEP therapy (HIV prophylactic agent) for HIV prevention (AIDS)
PEP Therapy Table of Contents
PrEP Therapy Table of Contents
What is PEP therapy?
PEP is an abbreviation for post-exposure prophylaxis. In cases where you believe there is a possibility of being infected with HIV following sexual activity or a medical accident, or in daily life, the use of antiretroviral drugs (treatments for HIV) should be started within 72 hours to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
- Drugs for PEP therapy should be taken twice a day for 28-30 days.
- PEP therapy is effective in preventing HIV when properly administered, but it should be noted that it does not provide a 100% guarantee of prevention of infection.
* Anti-HIV medication for post-exposure prevention after sexual intercourse is a treatment that has become popular as a national policy in some countries, including the United States.
Who should consider PEP therapy?
- Those who think that there is a possibility of being infected with HIV in a medical accident, sexual activity, or in daily life
- Those who suspect that they may have been infected within 72 hours
※The guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend treatment within 72 hours.
- Those who are clear that they are not infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus before starting PEP therapy.
※ If you are already infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus, you will not be eligible for PEP therapy.
Side effects and precautions
Side effects
Typical side effects include renal dysfunction, nausea, and mild stomach bloating (which increases gas in the intestinal tract).
Precautions
For those who are infected with the hepatitis B virus, if you stop using this medicine, hepatitis B may get worse.
Especially in the case of advanced hepatitis B, the symptoms may become severe.
The following people may not use this medicine.
Those who are being treated for osteoporosis
The following people should use the medication with caution. Please tell your doctor before use.
Those who have a renal disorder
There are some drugs that should be used with caution while taking this medicine. Please consult your doctor if you are using other medications or for new use.
There are some drugs that should be used with caution while taking this medicine. Please consult your doctor if you are using other medications or for new use.
1Interview / examination
Interviews and examinations will be performed to determine the risk of HIV infection and the suitability of PEP therapy.
2Blood tests
Confirm that the patient is not already infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus and that there is no renal dysfunction.
※PEP therapy cannot be administered to those who have already been infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus, or who have moderate or severe renal dysfunction.
3Physician’s explanation for non-insurance use of anti-HIV drugs and signing the consent document
Instructions for usage, expected side effects, and what to do when side effects occur will be given.
On the first visit, a medical examination and blood test(s) will be conducted. If there are no problems, 28 days of medication will be prescribed. Take two kinds of medicines.
※Typical side effects include hepatitis, liver dysfunction, skin rashes, mild headaches, renal dysfunction, mild stomach bloating (gas in the intestinal tract increases), and nausea.
4Revisits
You will have to visit again 13-14 days after you start taking the medicines.
Make sure there are no side effects at the examination and the blood tests.
5Subsequent follow-ups
In principle, we recommend HIV testing and testing for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis as appropriate 1 month, 3 or 4 months, and 6 months following the taking of the medication.
Treatment costs
Charges
First consultation and 14-day examination and the same-day inspection fee
33,000 yen (tax included)
Cost for 28 days of medication
308,000 yen (tax included)
(Examinations during PEP treatment (4 weeks) and tests to check for side effects) are included in the above costs.
※Subsequent examinations after the PEP treatment period (4 weeks) will be charged separately.
What is PrEP therapy?
PrEP is an abbreviation for pre-exposure prophylaxis. In principle, people with a very high risk of HIV infection (for example, those who have had intercourse with HIV infected partners, etc.) should take antiretroviral drugs (treatment drugs for HIV) daily to prevent HIV infection.
PrEP therapy is extremely effective in preventing HIV infection when used correctly as prescribed, but it is said that the effectiveness will decline if not taken consistently.
However, in cases when it may prove difficult to take every day, it is said that a similar preventive effect can be achieved by taking the medicine at specific times before and after sexual activity.
※ Anti-HIV medication for pre-exposure prevention prior to sexual intercourse is not approved in Japan, but in some countries such as the United States, it is a preventive treatment that has become widely used by many people as a part of national policy.
※ Research data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is said to have estimated the preventive effectiveness at 90% or more, but please note that prevention cannot be expected to be 100% effective.
※ When considering the preventive effect, this treatment is not a preventative method for other sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.), so condom use is mandatory during sexual activity. Moreover, it is recommended that sexual partners be limited to specific people.
Who should consider PrEP therapy?
- Those who think that there is a possibility of being infected with HIV as a result of sexual activity or in daily life
- Those who can take antiretroviral drugs (treatment for HIV) every day
※The effect of PrEP may be reduced if you forget to take, or take the medicines frequently.
- Those who are clear that they are not infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus before starting PrEP therapy
※If you are already infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus, you will not be eligible for PrEP therapy.
Side effects and precautions
Side effects
Typical side effects include renal dysfunction, nausea, and mild stomach bloating (which increases gas in the intestinal tract).
Precautions
For those who are infected with the hepatitis B virus, if you stop using this medicine, hepatitis B may get worse. Especially in the case of advanced hepatitis B, the symptoms may become severe.
The following people may not use this medicine.
・Those who have experienced hypersensitivity reactions in the past with ingredients contained in anti-HIV drugs.
・Those who are being treated for osteoporosis.
The following people should use the medication with caution. Please tell your doctor before use.
・Those with kidney problems
・Those with liver problems
There are some drugs that should be used with caution while taking this medicine. Please consult your doctor if you are using other medications or for new use.
Flow to prescription issuing
1 Interview / examination
Interviews and examinations will be performed to determine the risk of HIV infection and the suitability of PEP therapy.
2Blood tests
Confirm that the patient is not already infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus and that there is no renal dysfunction.
※Those who have already been infected with HIV or hepatitis B virus or who have moderate or severe renal dysfunction cannot receive PEP therapy.
3Physician’s explanation for non-insurance use of anti-HIV drugs and signing the consent document
Instructions for usage, expected side effects, and what to do when side effects occur will be given.
4Anti-HIV drug prescription
Inhibits the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and suppresses the growth of infectious viruses.
※Typical side effects include renal dysfunction, mild stomach bloating (gas increases in the intestinal tract), and nausea.
How to take: Take 1 tablet daily after evening meals.
※Ideally, it should be taken every 24 hours to stabilize the concentration of the drug in blood.
※Please refrain from sexual activity for at least 10 days following the stabilization of the concentration of the medicine in blood.
5Subsequent follow-ups
In principle, we recommend HIV testing, hepatitis B virus / hepatitis C virus / syphilis testing, liver function and renal function evaluation testing every 3 months from the start of use.
Treatment costs
Charges
Initial consultation and same-day examination fee
22,000 yen (tax included)
For medicines for 30 days
198,000 yen (tax included)
Please note that prescription drugs cannot be returned or refunded.
Examinations every 3 months during the PrEP period will incur additional costs.
There is also a method of taking On-Demand PrEP therapy for a limited number of days. Please consult with us.
