If you are HIV negative and don’t always use condoms then you may be at risk of getting HIV. Taking PrEP can prevent HIV.
You may be eligible to get PrEP for free. You need to attend an approved PrEP service provider to access free PrEP.
Find out where to get PrEP from an approved PrEP service provider.
If you are eligible for free PrEP, you also need to have a medical card or Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) card. There is no means test for a DPS card but you do need a PPS number.
To get PrEP for free through the HSE you need to:
1: You are having sex without condoms with HIV-positive partners who:
2: You are a man who has sex with men. This includes transgender men who have sex with men or a transgender woman who has sex with men, who meets any 1 ofthe following:
3: You are a heterosexual man or woman who is considered by a specialist STI doctor, to be at a large risk of contracting HIV through sex.
If you do not meet the criteria for free PrEP you can decide to pay for PrEP.
You can buy PrEP through community pharmacies with a prescription.
PrEP should not be used if you are HIV positive.
You may not need PrEP if you are:
An undetectable viral load is when the virus exists in such small amounts that it can’t be detected by standard blood tests. It means the level of HIV in your body is so low, it can’t be passed on. This needs to be monitored regularly by a healthcare professional.
It is possible to buy generic PrEP products over the internet.
In Ireland, it is illegal for a person to source prescription medication without a prescription.
The Health Products Regulation Authority (HPRA) have information on the risks of buying medicines online.
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) is a HIV prevention strategy that involves HIV negative people taking ARVs (antiretroviral drugs) before and after sex to dramatically reduce the chances of sexually acquired HIV infection.
Results in clinical studies have been overwhelmingly successful and so the effectiveness of PrEP is now widely accepted in significantly lowering the risk of becoming HIV positive.
Currently available HIV PrEP is a combination tablet containing two drugs: tenofovir and emtricitabine. These medicines are widely used to treat HIV. They have been licensed for use as PrEP in Europe since August 2016.
PrEP works by stopping the HIV virus from replicating in your body. When the virus cannot replicate it cannot establish an infection.
If you are taking PrEP properly and are exposed to HIV, the drug will stop the virus from replicating and you will remain HIV negative.
PrEP is licensed for daily use but studies have shown that it can be effective when taken ‘on demand’. However, if you are a trans man you must take PrEP as a daily pill and not the ‘on demand’ option.
The two ways to take PrEP are:
Daily
Watch video on daily PrEP here https://youtu.be/KwMWUk9P23M
On Demand
Watch video on event based PrEP here https://youtu.be/zPtTZIdQst4
PrEP is a great prevention option for people who are HIV negative and have sex without condoms or have sex in situations where condoms are not available or not easily used at the time.
PrEP is suitable for anyone at risk of HIV infection. This includes men, women, trans people, non-binary people and those in a relationship with an HIV positive partner who does not have a undetectable viral load.
Other factors are related to a higher risk of HIV. These include:
Any of these mean you are likely to benefit even more from taking PrEP.
PrEP is now available through the HSE free of charge to those who are considered to be at high risk of contracting HIV through sex.
Click on the following link to find out where you can get PrEP. www.sexualwellbeing.ie/getprep
For all updates on this programme please visit https://www.sexualwellbeing.ie/sexual-health/prep/
We recently updated our information about getting PrEP online. You can read that here.
In Ireland, it is illegal to supply medication by mail order, including over the internet. The Health Products Regulation Authority provides information for the public in relation to sourcing medication over the internet which is available here.
Please talk to a health advisor, nurse or doctor at the clinic. They can help you if you are planning to take, or are already taking PrEP.
It is really important to have an HIV test before or as you start.
PrEP can only be used if you are HIV negative. If you are already HIV positive and don’t realise it, you could develop resistance to drugs that you will need for treatment.
Ask for a ‘4th generation’ HIV blood test. This is also called a ‘combined antigen/antibody’ test. This tells you your HIV status approximately 4 weeks ago. Most finger prick tests are currently ‘3rd generation’. They tell you your HIV status approximately 3 months ago. So don’t rely on a fingerprick test alone before you start PrEP.
If you are just starting PrEP and had a risk in the last 4 weeks, have another 4th generation HIV blood test 4 weeks after starting, just to be sure an early infection was not missed. Don’t start PrEP if you have flu-like symptoms and a recent HIV risk. This is to check that these symptoms are not related to a recent HIV infection (ie seroconversion).
If you are starting PrEP after PEP, it is best to start immediately if you have ongoing risks. Ideally you should have an HIV blood test around the time you finish PEP/start PrEP plus another HIV blood test 4 weeks into PrEP.
Remember that unprotected sex while taking PrEP will reduce your risk of HIV but not other STIs, use condoms to reduce your risk of other STIs.
You will also need to have your kidney function checked. Kidney monitoring just involves a blood test for creatinine, and a urine test for protein. These should ideally be done just before or on the day you start.
You will need to be tested for Hepatitis B as PrEP is also active against the Hepatitis B virus.
Once you have started PrEP, monitoring is important.
Every 3-4 months:
Every 12 months:
To get PrEP free of charge in Ireland, you need to have a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) Card. Here’s an update on the application process.
The Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) has advised that the process of applying for a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) has been made easier with a 14-day turnaround time and no visa requirement.
Some people might have applied for emergency DPS which expires after three months. It is recommended that PrEP users/potential PrEP users complete the application process if you have not yet done so.
It is also advised that you bring your DPS card/number with you when attending PrEP services. It is important to have your valid unique community identifier with you when you attend your PrEP service.
To apply for the DPS visit www.mydps.ie
Research has shown that PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV as long as it’s taken as directed.
However, PrEP will not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) whereas condoms will. If you’re using PrEP it’s important that you go for regular STI screens every three months so you can get any other infections treated.