PEP Guide • Medications
PEP Medications
PEP uses a combination of three antiretroviral medicines, tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir, taken once a day for 28 days. Here’s what each one does and how the course is taken.
Every order is reviewed by our clinical team before it’s sent.
The Short Answer
Which Medicines Are Used for PEP?
PEP in Nigeria usually uses a combination of three antiretroviral medicines, taken once a day for 28 days: tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir. In Nigeria, all three usually come together in one tablet taken once a day, often called TLD. It’s the same well-tolerated combination recommended by the World Health Organization and used widely across the country.
You can see the exact medication on the product page, and our clinical team confirms it’s right for you before anything is dispatched.
The Three Medicines
What Each One Does
HIV has to go through several steps to establish an infection. The strength of this combination is that it blocks more than one of those steps at the same time.
Tenofovir and lamivudine
They work by stopping HIV from copying its genetic material, which is how the virus tries to multiply. Blocking that step early is central to how PEP gets ahead of an exposure.
Dolutegravir
Dolutegravir blocks a different step. It interferes with the point where HIV tries to insert its genetic material into your own cells. Because it works at a separate stage from the other two, the three together shut the virus down from more than one direction, which is what makes the regimen so effective.
Taking It Safely
How PEP Is Taken
PEP is a once-daily course for 28 days. The most important things are to take it every day, ideally at the same time, and to finish the whole course even if you start feeling fine. Taking it with food can help if your stomach feels unsettled at first.
Medicines That Interact With PEP
Dolutegravir, one of the three medicines, interacts with a few common products. Tell us if you take any of these:
- Antacids, iron, calcium, zinc or multivitamins: take PEP at least 2 hours before them, or 6 hours after.
- Metformin for diabetes: PEP raises metformin levels, so your dose may need adjusting.
- Rifampicin for TB: the dolutegravir dose usually needs to be taken twice a day instead of once.
- Some epilepsy medicines, such as carbamazepine and phenytoin: these can stop PEP working properly, so an adjustment or a different regimen may be needed.
Don’t stop or change any of your regular medicines yourself. Just tell us what you take, and we’ll work out the safest plan with you.
This combination is generally well tolerated, and any early side effects are usually mild and short-lived. You can read what to expect in our guide to PEP side effects. If you take other regular medicines, mention them when our team assesses your order, since a clinician will want to know. This guide is general information and not a substitute for that personal assessment.
Get the Right PEP, Confirmed for You
Our clinical team checks that this regimen suits your situation before it’s sent. Order online or chat to order.
When It’s Not a Fit
What If the Standard Regimen Isn’t Right for You?
For most people, tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir is the preferred PEP combination, and it’s the one the World Health Organization and other major guidelines recommend first. It also tends to cause the fewest side effects and has the highest completion rates, which is a big part of why it’s the standard.
Sometimes it isn’t the best fit. Certain kidney conditions, some medicines you already take, or particular health situations can mean a different combination is safer for you. Clinicians have well-established alternatives for exactly these cases. The third medicine can be swapped for another option such as raltegravir or a boosted protease inhibitor, which are simply different classes of HIV medicine, and the tenofovir part can be changed, for example to a zidovudine-based combination or to tenofovir alafenamide, a form that’s gentler on the kidneys.
These aren’t choices to make on your own. The right combination depends on your health and what else you’re taking, so it belongs with a clinician. When our team reviews your order, this is the kind of thing they check. If the standard regimen isn’t right for you, they’ll tell you and help you find the safest option rather than leaving you to sort it out alone. Either way the goal is the same: effective PEP, started inside the 72-hour window.
Keep Reading
Related Guides
Common Questions
PEP Medications, Answered
What medicines are used for PEP?
PEP usually uses three antiretroviral medicines taken once daily for 28 days: tenofovir, lamivudine and dolutegravir. All three usually come together in one daily tablet, often called TLD. It is the same well-tolerated regimen recommended by the World Health Organization.
How do PEP medicines work?
They block HIV from copying itself. Tenofovir and lamivudine stop the virus from copying its genetic material, while dolutegravir blocks the step where HIV tries to insert itself into your cells. Working at more than one stage is what makes the combination effective.
How long do I take PEP medication?
PEP is taken once a day for a full 28 days. Taking every dose, ideally at the same time each day, and finishing the whole course is essential for it to work.
Is the PEP regimen safe and well tolerated?
The modern PEP combination is generally well tolerated, and most side effects are mild and short-lived. A clinician should know about any other medicines you take, which is why our team assesses your order before dispatch.
What if I can’t take tenofovir or dolutegravir?
For most people these are the right medicines, but if a kidney condition, another medicine you take, or a particular health situation makes them unsuitable, clinicians use well-established alternatives, such as a combination based on raltegravir or a protease inhibitor, or a zidovudine-based one. Which one is right is a clinical decision, so our team flags it when they review your order and helps you find the safest option.
Can I get PEP medication without going to a hospital?
Yes. You can order PEP online or chat to order, our clinical team confirms it suits your situation, and the medicine is delivered to you discreetly, all within the time that matters most after an exposure.
The Right PEP, Without the Wait.
Order the recommended PEP regimen online in minutes, confirmed for your situation by our clinical team, and start within the 72-hour window.