What is PEP and when should I take it?

PEP is short for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis. It's an emergency medical treatment that can stop you from getting HIV after a risky contact. The treatment lasts four weeks and needs to be supervised by a doctor. There are clear medical rules for how to take it.

PEP uses three different active ingredients. This is what makes it different from PrEP, which only contains two of these medications. So, you can't just swap PEP for PrEP meds.

A medical professional needs to manage the treatment. They'll check for any possible side effects and risks, and do important exams and tests beforehand.

The sooner you start PEP, the better it works. After just 6 to 8 hours, its chances of success go down, and after 48 hours, the treatment usually won't help anymore. So, it's super important to act fast!

If you think you've been exposed to HIV, head straight to a hospital emergency room – it doesn't matter if you're in Switzerland or abroad.

You can find more info here: https://aids.ch/safer-sex/schuetzen/hiv-pep/