Medically reviewed by Pharm. Jude Ozioko, registered with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN 024035). Last reviewed October 2026.
If you’re reading this two days after it happened, you probably spent those two days hoping it was nothing. Maybe you told yourself the risk was small. Maybe you didn’t know who to ask. That’s honestly how most people end up here, and there’s no shame in it.
So here’s the straight answer. Yes, you can still take PEP after 48 hours. But you need to start today, not tomorrow.
You still have time, but not much of it
PEP has to be started within 72 hours of a possible HIV exposure. Inside that window it can still stop the virus from taking hold. After it, PEP is no longer recommended for that exposure.
Think about it this way. At 48 hours, you’ve used two thirds of your window. You have one day left, and the sooner you start within that day, the better PEP works. Every hour you wait from here makes a difference.
Why the last 24 hours disappear so fast
One day sounds like plenty. It isn’t, once real life gets involved. Here’s what usually eats it up:
- The first pharmacy you try doesn’t have PEP in stock, and neither does the second.
- The hospital emergency unit has a queue, and PEP isn’t treated as urgent.
- It’s a Sunday, or a public holiday, and half the places you’d call are closed.
- You’re stuck in traffic between two facilities while the clock keeps running.
That’s exactly why we deliver. In Abuja we aim to reach you within 3 hours, in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Asaba, Warri, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Kano and Jos within hours, and everywhere else in Nigeria within 24 hours at the latest. If you’re at hour 48, message us now so we can tell you exactly when PEP will reach you.
What to do in the next hour
- Work out roughly when it happened. A rough time is fine. It tells us how much of your window is left.
- Check whether PEP is right for you. Our 2-minute risk checker gives you a clear answer, or you can just message us on WhatsApp.
- Order. You can order PEP online or by chat. Our team screens every order for safety before it goes out.
- Take your first dose the moment it arrives. Then one tablet a day, every day, for 28 days.
Don’t wait for a test result
PEP is only for people who are HIV-negative, so a baseline test before your first dose is required unless you already know your status. You can add our rapid HIV test kit to your order (paid, subject to availability) and get a result in about 20 minutes at home.
But here’s the important part. If testing would slow you down, don’t let it. At hour 48, starting PEP comes first. Test alongside it, not instead of it.
Not sure it was a real risk?
You don’t need to be certain you were exposed. PEP is recommended when there was a real possibility, such as:
- Vaginal or anal sex without a condom, or a condom that broke or slipped
- Sexual assault
- Sharing a needle or syringe
- A needlestick or blood splash at work
Kissing, hugging, sharing food or toilets can’t pass on HIV, so those don’t need PEP. If you’re unsure where your situation fits, the risk checker will tell you honestly. Waiting to be sure is the one thing you can’t afford right now.
What if you’re already past 72 hours?
Then PEP won’t help for this exposure, but you’re not out of options. Here’s the plan:
- Take an HIV test now. It’s your starting point.
- Test again at 6 weeks after the exposure.
- Test again at 3 months after the exposure. A negative fourth-generation test at 3 months is conclusive.
- If you get flu-like symptoms in the next few weeks, such as fever, a rash or a sore throat, test sooner and tell us.
- If this could happen again, PrEP can protect you before the next exposure.
If you’re a woman and pregnancy is possible, emergency contraception works best as soon as possible, and some options still work up to 5 days after sex. It’s safe alongside PEP too.
After you finish PEP
Finishing all 28 days matters, so don’t stop early without talking to us. After that, test at 6 weeks and again at 3 months after the exposure, using a fourth-generation test. Our guide to testing after PEP explains what each result means.
Common questions
Does PEP still work if I start at 48 hours?
Yes. You’re still inside the 72-hour window, so PEP is still recommended. It works best the earlier it starts, so start today.
Can I start PEP at 70 hours?
If you’re under 72 hours, yes, but start immediately. If we can’t get PEP to you in time, go to the nearest hospital emergency unit and ask for PEP.
What happens after 72 hours?
PEP is no longer recommended for that exposure. Test now, then at 6 weeks and 3 months after the exposure, and talk to us about PrEP if this could happen again.
If you’re at hour 48, the best time to act is right now. Message us on WhatsApp or order PEP online, and we’ll take it from there.