People who call Sida Info Service about Truvada use this “preventative” treatment without always knowing how it works.
Preventive treatment against HIV has been available in France since January. The National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) has issued a temporary recommendation for use (RTU) for three years for Truvada in prevention. People at high risk of contamination can therefore have access to it, but the information does not always pass correctly on the use of this drug. AIDS Info Service published on April 4 the main subjects of anonymous calls on his line.
Between the 1er January and February 29, the counseling platform conducted 122 interviews about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), that is, taking antiretroviral therapy before unsafe sex. The majority of inquiries came from people aged 30 to 39; 96% were men, 52% of whom had sex with men (MSM).
Poorly understood dosage and mode of action
The extracts reported by Sida Info Service (SIS) are sometimes worrying, especially on the way in which Truvada pills are used, and on the lack of understanding of their mode of action. “My partner wanted to have penetration without a condom, on the pretext that he has a drug that makes transmission impossible”, testifies in particular a 34-year-old man. A dangerous misunderstanding, because taking Truvada does not prevent transmission, even if it greatly reduces it.
Taking “wild” in PrEP is also not recommended, but exists. “I have antiretrovirals at home, I have left after emergency treatment,” explains a 44-year-old man. Could you tell me the number of takes before and after the report? “. “I had unprotected sex with an undetectable man,” adds a 23-year-old man. I took antiretrovirals twice the night before, and continue to take them. It was the undetectable person who provided me with the meds. “
These behaviors remind us that Truvada in PrEP must be taken under prescription, after consultation with a doctor who will give all the indications and the mode of administration.
Do not give up the condom
It also emerges from the SIS survey that some people, especially MSM, are interested in preventive treatment in addition to other measures, to reassure themselves. “I have an HIV partner with an undetectable load, and I would like to be quieter,” says a 37-year-old man.
Good news, because the multiplication of prevention methods is recommended by doctors. Infection with the HIV virus is no longer as deadly as it once was, but remains a chronic disease that is not trivial.
The use of PrEP as a replacement for condoms is also of concern to infectious disease specialists, who fear an upsurge in other sexually transmitted infections. “It’s true that I hadn’t thought about the increased risks of other STIs…”, admits a 34-year-old man.
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