Everything you need
to know about PEP.

PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a 28-day course of HIV medicine taken after a possible exposure to the virus. It stops HIV from copying itself in the period right after exposure, before it can take hold.

PEP is not a cure and it is not a vaccine. It’s an emergency treatment, and how well it works depends on how quickly it’s started and how consistently it’s taken.

PEP is appropriate after a possible exposure to HIV. Common situations include:

Sexual exposure: sex without a condom, or a condom that burst or slipped, with a partner whose HIV status is unknown or positive, or sexual assault.

Needle-related exposure: sharing needles or syringes, or a needlestick injury at work.

Other exposure: contact between possibly HIV-positive body fluids and broken skin, an open wound, or the eyes or mouth.

Not sure whether your exposure qualifies? Take the 2-minute risk check or message us, and we’ll assess your situation promptly.

The recommended first-line PEP regimen is a single daily tablet combining three medicines: tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD). Our team confirms the right regimen for your situation during your assessment, including checking your other medicines and health conditions. All medicines come through authorised pharmaceutical channels and are dispensed by licensed pharmacists.

PEP must be started within 72 hours of a possible exposure. The earlier, the better: the first 24 hours give the best chance of preventing infection. Starting between 24 and 72 hours still works, but every hour of delay matters.

The standard PEP course lasts 28 days. Completing the full course is critical. Stopping early, even if you feel fine, can leave the job unfinished.

Take PEP at about the same time every day. Consistent dosing matters as much as starting early.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember, unless your next dose is less than 4 hours away. In that case, skip the missed dose and carry on as normal. Never take two doses at once.

If you’ve missed two or more doses, take your next dose straight away and message us the same day.

No HIV prevention method is 100% effective, and PEP is no exception. But when it’s started promptly and taken correctly for all 28 days, PEP is highly effective at preventing HIV after a possible exposure.

It works best when started within the first 24 hours and taken without missed doses.

No. PEP is an emergency treatment for one specific exposure. Once your 28-day course ends, you’re no longer protected.

If your risk is ongoing, you can move straight onto PrEP when your PEP course ends, with no gap in protection.

Yes. There’s no medical rule against taking PEP more than once. But if you find yourself needing it repeatedly, your risk is ongoing, and PrEP will protect you far more reliably than repeated PEP courses. See which PrEP is right for you.

Both are emergency treatments taken after a risk rather than before it, and both must be taken within a time window. PEP prevents HIV and is a 28-day course. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy and is usually a single dose.

They can be taken together. If a condom burst during vaginal sex, you may need both. See condom broke: do I need PEP?

PEP is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects, mainly in the first week, are nausea, tiredness, headache and loose stools. They’re usually mild and ease as your body adjusts.

Taking PEP with food can help with nausea. If you use antacids or iron, calcium or zinc supplements, take PEP at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after them.

Moderate drinking doesn’t directly reduce PEP’s effectiveness. Heavy drinking is discouraged, though: it adds strain on the liver and makes it much easier to miss or forget doses, which does reduce effectiveness.

If you drink during your course, keep it moderate and don’t let it disrupt your daily dose.

Yes, but use condoms every time, during your PEP course and until your 3-month HIV test is negative. Until then, it isn’t certain whether PEP prevented infection from the original exposure, so condoms protect your partners. PEP is also not designed to protect you from new exposures.

Test for HIV at 4 to 6 weeks after the exposure, and take a final test at 3 months. The 3-month test matters because PEP can delay when an infection shows up on a test, even in the rare cases where it didn’t fully prevent it.

Our team will guide you on follow-up testing. Don’t skip it.

Move straight onto PrEP when your PEP course ends. With a negative HIV test at that point, you can start PrEP the day after your last PEP dose, with no gap in protection.

All three PrEP options are available through us: the daily pill and the twice-yearly lenacapavir injection are available now, and CAB-LA (every two months) is available on request. Compare them in which PrEP is right for you.

The fastest way is WhatsApp at +234 701 439 4194, open 24 hours a day. Message us and our team will do a brief assessment. Once cleared, your PEP is dispatched straight away, in plain packaging. You can also order online.

Within hours in our 13 hub cities: Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, Jos, Benin City, Asaba, Warri, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri and Port Harcourt. Abuja is usually within 3 hours, and Lagos and Abuja deliver at night too.

Everywhere else in Nigeria: fast delivery, within 24 hours at the latest. See PEP in your state.