What is Truvada?
Truvada is a PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) medication that helps prevent HIV. You can take it to reduce the chance of getting HIV if you’re at high risk of being exposed to it.
Truvada is recommended for people who are high risk for HIV, like those who have partners with HIV, have regular unprotected sex or have sex with partners with an unknown HIV status.
There’s also a type called ‘Generic PrEP’, which is the generic version of the medicine, but contains the same active ingredients as the branded (called Truvada).
What does Truvada treat?
HIV is a condition which can be transmitted from person to person via bodily fluids such as blood, semen or anal and vaginal fluid. If you have unprotected sex or share a needle with someone who has HIV, you could be at risk of transmission.
There is still no cure for HIV, but there are safe, effective PrEP medications like Truvada to help if you are at risk of being exposed to the virus.
What is Truvada used to treat? HIV uses an enzyme called reverse transcriptase to multiply itself. Truvada is taken to suppress this, meaning the virus finds it more difficult to replicate.
It can only be taken by you if you are HIV negative. If you are HIV positive, there are different treatment pathways to explore.
How does Truvada work?
Truvada contains two main active ingredients: emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil . They make it tricky for the virus to replicate in the body. Truvada works in a similar way to drugs used to treat HIV-positive patients.
It’s only recommended for use if you’ve had exposure to HIV but have tested HIV negative.
It’s important to have Truvada blood tests at a GUM clinic before you take the medication to ensure you’re HIV negative. You’ll also need a test periodically whilst you’re taking it, to make sure that the treatment is working for you.
