Pre-PrEP checklist: How can I get PrEP at PULSE Clinic?

1. Do you already have the prescription?
   
   • If you already have a prescription for PrEP, you can show us your prescription and buy the medication.
2. If not, do you have health check-up results from the last 3 months?
   • If you already have one, you can get a 12-month supply at PULSE.
   • If you do not have recent health check-up results, you can get tested at PULSE and receive a 12-month supply of PrEP.
   • You can also get fewer than 12 bottles and have the rest delivered to your door.

Please email us at info.bkk@pulse-clinic.com or chat with us on your preferred platform if you wish to get affordable and quality care and treatment

+66 65 237 1936   @PULSEClinic   PulseClinic

What you need to know about PrEP

Written by Dr.Anaand PULSE Kuala Lumpur

THINKING ABOUT STARTING PrEP, GET PrEP AT PULSE CLINIC

We can provide advice before you start. Book an appointment for routine consultation at PULSE CLINIC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It’s important we check your medical history and run necessary blood tests as well as sexual health screening. We will make sure you understand things and know well how to take care of yourself and your partner(s).

FIRST VISIT

Our team will help you choose which treatment plan to follow. We can arrange a sexual health screening at our PULSE Clinic Kuala Lumpur. We can provide the medication up to 4 bottles at the first visit. The whole process to acquire PrEP at PULSE Clinic Kuala Lumpur takes 30 minutes. You will also receive prescription letter that will allow you to travel with PrEP medications in every country (upon request). PrEP appointment includes consultation, risk evaluation, rapid test (HIV, Hepatitis B & C virus, Herpes Simplex I & II, and Syphilis) and kidney profile & liver function test.

• Make sure you get tested for HIV, kidney profile and liver function test before taking prep.
• Make sure you didn't have any potential exposure, 28 days before HIV test.
• Make sure we have your prescription or lab results before ordering prep.

FOLLOW UP VISIT

It’s important to have regular monitoring. We’ll make sure everything is going OK and doing well. We’ll check your HIV status, kidney profile & liver function test every 4 months. We can provide the medication up to 4 months on each visit.

• You need to do follow up blood test to make sure you're HIV negative, have normal kidney and liver function to continue taking prep.
• Make sure you get proper treatment when having STDs and tell your partner(s) to get tested and treated too.
• Make sure you take your prep daily and should not share your prep with those who have not get tested.

HOW TO TAKE PrEP

How to take your PrEP depends on:

• how far in advance you plan on having sex
• how regularly you have sex.

It does not necessarily depend on how much sex you have.

Daily PrEP (1 pill per day) routine.

The lead-in time for daily PrEP is 7 days. It’s suitable for both anal and vaginal or frontal sex. Daily PrEP is best taken at the same time each day, so it becomes part of your routine, but a few hours late or early is fine.

On Demand PrEP or Event Based Dosing (EBD).

This dosing option is only suitable for anal sex, not vaginal or frontal sex. If you know that you might have condomless sex 24 hours in advance:

• take 2 pills 2 – 24 hours before sex
• take 1 pill 24 hours later
• take 1 more pill 24 hours after that

4 pills per week — also known as ‘the Ts and Ss’.

This dosing option is only suitable for anal sex, not vaginal or frontal sex. We recommend daily dosing for 7 days, then dropping down to 4 pills per week. 4 pills per week usually involves taking a pill on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday PrEP. Holiday PrEP is suitable for both anal and vaginal or frontal sex. Based on a 7- day period (or holiday) we recommend 7-7-7:

• 7 days daily dosing before the period
• 7 days daily dosing during the period (or for as long as the specific period lasts)
• 7 days daily dosing after the period.

Drug of Choice for PrEP

In PULSE Clinic Kuala Lumpur, we have two choice of PrEP medications which is Tenof-EM and Tenvir-EM. Both medications are available as tablets. Each tablet contains 200mg of Emtricitabine and 300mg of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (which is equivalent to 245mg of Tenofovir Disoproxil).

Common side effects of this medicine include nausea, diarrhea, headache, trouble sleeping, rash, and dizziness. These are usually not serious but inform your doctor if they bother you or do not go away. Avoid skipping doses and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to get maximum benefit. Taking PrEP along with practicing safe sex will decrease the risk of getting the HIV virus by 99%.