Getting Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Medication in Hong Kong

The price of the emergency Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) service of MY PLACE depends on the choice of medication. There are currently 2 options depending on the current availability:

1. Truvada + Isentress : $13,500
2. Biktarvy : $12,860

*For emergency appointments out of our office hour, an extra cost of $1,000 may apply.

The treatment course includes 3 doctor's appointments (day 1, 7 and 49), 7 tests and 28 days of PEP medication.

The emergency Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) service of MY PLACE includes:

- A doctor's assessment and consultation before taking the medicine
- HIV rapid test before taking the medicine
- 28 days PEP medication (brand name drugs)
- 2 follow-up doctor's consultations and interpretation of reports
- HIV P24 antigen and antibody test
- Liver and kidney function test
- Syphilis test
- Hepatitis B test
- Hepatitis C test

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is effective for people who may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours.

You should consider the following before taking PEP:

1. there is not more than 72 hours after suspected exposure to HIV 
2. you have not been infected with HIV before the suspected exposure

If you meet the above two conditions, you may consider choosing MY PLACE's emergency PEP service. Our doctor will have a discussion with you in detail about PEP and do the necessary tests for you. You can then decide if you would like to start PEP.

Two to three drugs are usually prescribed as part of a PEP regimen, and they must be taken as prescribed for 28 consecutive days.

Option 1 : Truvada + Isentress

Two brand name preventive drugs, Truvada and Isentress are used in MY PLACE's PEP regimen to block the invasion of HIV in the white blood cells.

Truvada is a medication used to treat and prevent HIV infection. It can inhibit the replication of HIV in the body.

Isentress is an inhibitor of intercalation enzymes, which can inhibit the catalytic activity of intercalation enzymes in HIV and block HIV. Double-stranded DNA covalently inserts or embeds the role of host cell DNA. The use of a combination of both drugs can raise the chance of blocking the invasion of HIV. This is in accordance with the recommendations on the use of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV (Nov, 2018) [1].

Option 2 : Biktarvy

Biktarvy combines three antiretroviral drugs in one pill. Two of the drugs (emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide) are from a class of drugs known as NRTIs (nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors). The third drug, bictegravir, is an HIV integrase inhibitor. Each drug class works against HIV in a different way.

As Biktarvy is a relatively new drug, it is not included in the recommendations on the use of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV (Nov, 2018). However, it is included as the type of drug that can be used as PEP in USA, Europe and Taiwan. [2]

Before taking PEP, you must be fully evaluated and it must be prescribed by a doctor.

PEP is a powerful course of drugs, it uses high-dose of antiretroviral drugs. The side effects can be severe and it may vary from person to person. 

Common side effects of PEP include diarrhoea, headache, nausea and vomiting. Side effects of PEP usually appear soon after starting PEP as the body adjusts to the new medications. Side-effects often lessen, become manageable, or go away completely after a few days or weeks.

Taking PEP drugs requires good liver and kidney function, those with insufficient liver and kidney function must be carefully monitored.

If discomfort occurs, the treatment may need to be stopped.

Iif you have started MY PLACE's PEP course and you feel like you could talk to someone about it, you can seek help for the Male Health Team (Guts Army) of AIDS Concern [Whatsapp 6387 5551].