Where Can I Buy Doxycyline as DoxyPEP for STI Prevention?

1. If you are client of PULSE CLINIC, You can get Doxycycline from PULSE Pharmacy Online
2. If you’re not an existing client at PULSE Clinic, you have a few options. 
   • Ask your primary care provider or sexual health care provider about Doxy PEP and if they can provide a prescription. 
   • Visit PULSE CLINIC anywhere in Thailand (Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai),
     Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia (Bukit Bintang, Bangsar, Penang), and the Philippines (Manila)

What is DoxyPEP?

DoxyPEP, or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is a strategy to prevent certain sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This approach involves taking a dose of the antibiotic doxycycline (doxy) after sex to prevent infections caused by bacteria such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, and mycoplasma genitalium.

Effectiveness and Ease of Use

DoxyPEP involves the use of doxycycline, an antibiotic, taken shortly after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent bacterial STIs. This strategy has shown promise in several studies and pilot programs. 

1. Effectiveness: Studies have demonstrated that DoxyPEP can significantly reduce the incidence of bacterial STIs such as chlamydia and syphilis. It has been demonstrated that DoxyPEP significantly reduces the risk of contracting STIs, including syphilis and chlamydia, by about 90%

1. Ease of Use: Taking a pill after exposure is a straightforward intervention that can be easily incorporated into individuals' routines.
   
   
   • An individual takes 200mg of doxycycline within 72 hours after engaging in oral, anal, or vaginal/front hole sex. It is advisable to take it within 24 hours post-sex, though it can be taken up to 72 hours later. 
     
   • If you have sex again, take another dose 24 hours after your last dose. 
   • You can take Doxy PEP as often as every day, but don’t take more than 200 mg every 24 hours. 
   • Take doxycycline with plenty of water. If you get an upset stomach, try taking it with food. 
   • Take it with 8 oz of water and food, if possible, to help decrease any potential side effects like nausea or headaches
     

Reminders 

• Don’t share DoxyPEP with others. If your friends or partners want to use it, refer them to us or their provider.
• Wear sunscreen if you’re taking Doxy PEP. It can cause your skin to be more sensitive to the sun.
• Some people are more sensitive to the sun when they take it, so be sure to wear sunscreen and/or stay covered when spending extended time outdoors
• Avoid dairy, calcium, antacids, or multivitamins within 2 hours before or after DoxyPEP. These can reduce absorption in your stomach.
• Doxycycline has been used for over fifty years and is considered to be generally safe and well-tolerated. This holds true even when used over long periods of time.
  
  

What else should I know before starting DoxyPEP?

• It is safe to take PrEP for HIV and DoxyPEP at the same time.
• DoxyPEP treatment is not 100% protective, but recent studies have shown that it can decrease your likelihood of contracting syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea by about 60%.
• Since this treatment method is relatively new, we are still learning about the effects of DoxyPEP on the ‘good’ bacteria of the gut, the bacteria that live on our skin (for example, staph), and possible resistance to STIs such as gonorrhea.
• Doxycycline is not a new medication, but this use of it is. Doxycycline has long been used as a common antibiotic due to its safety, mild potential side effects, and low cost.
• Chlamydia and syphilis have shown no resistance to doxycycline, despite it having been used as a common antibiotic for decades.

It's important to discuss these points with your healthcare provider to fully understand the benefits and potential risks of starting DoxyPEP.

• The New York Times: "A New Way to Prevent S.T.I.s: A Pill After Sex"
• DoxyPEP the FUTURE of STI prevention?
• Sexual Health Info / PREP, PEP, & DOXYPEP