If you think you're at a high risk for contracting HIV the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending taking a daily medicine that helps prevent the virus from taking root in your body.
The CDC is recommending a drug called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) which features two medicines used to treat HIV, following studies that reveal such use lowers the risk of infection, upt to 92 percent, for those who follow the daily regiment. The drug, called Truvada, is made by Gilead Sciences.
It is an FDA-approved treatment covered by Medicaid and most insurance companies.
"For those who are sexually active, no prevention strategy is 100 percent effective, but PrEP can be combined with other HIV prevention methods to provide even greater protection than when used alone," states a CDC statement.
The drug is for those who do not have HIV but due to lifestyle may be at a higher risk than others. Those included may be partners of HIV-infected lovers and those not in a monogamous relationship. It's also recommended for those who have or who are taking illicit drugs via injection.
The CDC warns there are potential side effects, including stomach issues and loss of appetite but they are likely temporary.
"PrEP is only for people who are at ongoing substantial risk of HIV infection," says the CDC. "Those who need to prevent HIV after a single high-risk event of potential HIV exposure-such as sex without a condom, needle-sharing injection drug use, or sexual assault-there is another option called postexposure prophylaxis, or PEP," states the agency and that drug must be initiated within three days of the incident.
