PEP kit for HIV: medicines and the 28-day course

Why a clinician chooses the regimen?

PEP is not one fixed box of tablets for everyone. Before prescribing, the doctor checks what happened and when, your health history, any medicines you already take, allergies, kidney or liver problems and pregnancy. These details decide which medicines are safest for you and what tests you need.

Usually, PEP is a combination of three anti-HIV medicines, often given as one or two tablets a day. Your doctor will tell you the exact medicine names, when to take them and whom to call with questions. Follow your own prescription — not a list from the internet or a friend.

Why is the “28 days” description not a personal instruction?

Most PEP courses last 28 days, as advised by WHO and NACO. This length gives the medicines enough time to stop HIV from settling in the body. Still, the course written on your prescription is the one to follow, because your doctor plans it for your situation.

Do not shorten or extend the course because a website says something different. If anything is unclear — the end date, a late start, a missed dose or a new instruction — ask your doctor before changing anything.

Every person’s situation is different. Ask a qualified clinician to explain how current guidance applies to you.

What should you know about questions to ask before leaving the consultation?

Ask the doctor to write down the medicine names, the dose, the time to take it, how long to take it and when your next check-up is. Ask whether to take it with or without food, and whether your other medicines or supplements are safe with PEP. Also ask which side effects are common, which symptoms need urgent care and how to reach the doctor between visits.

A simple tip: repeat the plan back in your own words so the doctor can correct anything you misunderstood. If any medical word is confusing, ask for a simple explanation or a translation. Clear instructions keep you safe.

What should you know about interactions, other conditions and privacy?

Tell the doctor about every medicine you take — prescription tablets, over-the-counter products, vitamins, supplements and recreational drugs. Some, like antacids, iron, calcium or zinc, can reduce how well PEP works if taken at the same time. Do not stop a regular medicine on your own; ask the doctor how to take both safely.

Worried about privacy? Ask how your records, messages and bills are handled before you share details. At Dr. Monga Clinic, consultations are private and one-to-one, and you can speak with the doctor alone. You deserve respectful care, and you can always ask why a question is being asked.

What should you know about getting and storing medicines safely?

Get PEP only with a doctor’s prescription from a trusted clinic or pharmacy. Before you leave, check that the label matches what the doctor told you. If the label is unclear, a tablet looks different or the pack seems incomplete, ask the pharmacist. Never use someone else’s tablets or leftover tablets from an old course.

Store the medicines as the label says — usually at room temperature, away from heat and moisture — and out of children’s reach. If you are travelling, keep the tablets in their original labelled pack and carry your prescription. Do not move tablets into unlabelled boxes.

How should adherence be supported?

Taking a tablet every day for 28 days can be hard when you are stressed, travelling, working shifts or feeling sick. A daily phone alarm or taking the dose with a regular routine, like breakfast or brushing your teeth, can help. Tell the doctor about your daily routine so the timing suits you.

If you miss a dose, vomit after a dose or cannot keep it down, contact the doctor for advice. Do not take a double dose or skip later doses. Our missed-dose guide explains what to tell the doctor so you get a quick answer.

How to understand the prescription label?

The medicine label tells you what to take, how much, when, and how to store it. It can be hard to read when you are worried. Ask the pharmacist to point out the medicine name, the dose, the timing, the number of tablets and any warnings. If the label uses short forms or does not match what the doctor said, ask before taking it.

Before leaving, check that the pack and the prescription show the same medicines. If the tablets look different from an earlier supply, ask the pharmacist whether it is the same medicine from another brand. Keep the box and leaflet until the course ends, so the doctor can check the exact product if needed.

This page does not list a ready-made PEP regimen on purpose. WHO’s 2024 “Guidelines for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis” and NACO’s PEP guidance help doctors choose the right medicines. Your doctor uses these guidelines along with your health details to choose your plan.

Why is a medication list more useful than relying on memory?

It is easy to forget medicine names when you are worried. Bring the packs, a photo of the labels or a written list. Include medicines you take only sometimes, pain or cold tablets, vitamins, supplements and herbal or ayurvedic remedies. If you are unsure of a name, say so rather than leaving it out.

The doctor uses this list to check for interactions — nobody is judging you. Do not stop a medicine for a long-term condition like diabetes or blood pressure because you fear a clash; ask the doctor how to take both safely.

If another doctor changes your medicines during the PEP course, tell your PEP doctor too. Doctors may not see each other’s records. One up-to-date list and one main contact keep your plan safe.

What should you know about starting, supply and refill questions?

Ask how you will get your first PEP supply, whether it covers the full 28 days and whom to contact if the pharmacy cannot give it. With Dr. Monga Clinic, the doctor gives the prescription and medicines can be delivered to your home anywhere in India within 12–24 hours.

If the label, number of tablets or instructions do not match what the doctor explained, don’t guess — ask the doctor or pharmacist to check. If you are running low, ask for a refill early so there is no gap. Never use another person’s tablets while you wait.

Save the clinic’s phone and WhatsApp numbers with your medicine papers. Our doctor is available 24×7 on WhatsApp (919999219128) for questions about your course. If you feel seriously unwell and cannot reach us, go to the nearest emergency department.

How can you fit the prescribed plan into real life?

Work shifts, travel, college, fasting, family duties or an irregular routine can make daily doses harder. Tell the doctor what a normal day looks like for you. They can suggest the best time for your dose and tell you which parts of the schedule must stay fixed. Do not change the timing or combine doses without asking.

Choose a reminder that protects your privacy — a phone alarm with a neutral name, a calendar note or a trusted person. If others use your phone, check what appears in notifications. If reminders make you more anxious, ask the doctor or counsellor for another way.

Travelling during PEP? Keep the tablets in their original labelled pack, carry the prescription and follow the storage advice. Ask the doctor how to get help while you are away. Medicine rules differ between countries, so check official travel information before going abroad.

How to discuss an unwanted effect?

Most people take PEP without serious problems. Mild nausea, tiredness, headache or loose stools may happen in the first few days and usually settle. If you feel unwell, note what changed and when, and tell the doctor whether you can eat, drink, sleep and take the next dose. The doctor will decide whether you need a check-up, a test or a change.

Ask the doctor which warning signs need urgent care. If you get a rash with fever, yellow eyes, severe stomach pain, breathing trouble or symptoms that get worse quickly, seek urgent medical care at once. Do not take extra medicines or supplements for side effects without checking first.

You can tell your doctor about side effects without fear of being scolded. Usually, side effects can be managed so that you can finish the course. If symptoms are troubling you, our side-effects guide explains what to expect and what to ask.

What should you know about end-of-course and follow-up planning?

A PEP course usually lasts 28 days, as advised by WHO and NACO. Take every dose until the last day on your prescription, even if you feel fine. Do not stop early, take extra doses or keep leftover tablets.

Before the course ends, confirm when your follow-up HIV tests are due. Usually, a test is done at the start, with follow-up tests after the course, at times your doctor sets. Ask who will explain your results and what to do if you miss an appointment. Don’t copy a test schedule from a friend or another website.

If you are at ongoing risk, ask the doctor about PrEP, which is taken before exposure to prevent HIV. You may need an HIV test before moving from PEP to PrEP. Never use leftover PEP tablets as a bridge — ask your doctor for a clear plan.

What should you do if you need a second explanation?

It is completely fine to ask the doctor to slow down, repeat something or write it in simple words. Stress makes it hard to remember new instructions. Try saying the plan back, for example: “I will take one tablet every morning after breakfast, and I will call if I miss a dose or feel unwell.” The doctor can then correct any mistakes.

If English is hard for you, ask for an explanation in Hindi or your own language. You can also bring a trusted person if you want, but only share what you are comfortable sharing in front of them.

If the written prescription and what the doctor said don’t match, don’t guess. Call the doctor or pharmacist and ask them to confirm, then keep the answer with your medicine papers. Asking questions is a normal part of safe treatment.

What should you do if the medicine is hard to swallow or keep down?

Tell your doctor if you find tablets hard to swallow, have a stomach problem or are vomiting. Do not crush, split or dissolve a tablet, or mix it into food, unless the pharmacist says this is safe for that specific medicine.

If you vomit soon after a dose, note the time you took it and when you vomited, then contact the doctor. Whether to repeat the dose depends on the medicine and the timing, so do not repeat it on your own. If you cannot keep fluids down, feel faint or have severe symptoms, seek urgent medical care.

The doctor may suggest an easier way to take the medicine or a different option if needed. Always ask for any change in writing. If side effects are making the course hard, read our side-effects guide and speak to your doctor.

How can you keep the treatment plan connected across providers?

Your care may involve a doctor, a clinic, a lab and a pharmacy that don’t share records. Keep your prescription, medicine pack, test reports and appointment notes together in one place. If another doctor gives advice or changes something, tell your PEP doctor.

If you visit a new clinic, tell them you are on PEP, the medicine name and the date you started. Ask whether they can continue your plan or need to review it. If you are referred elsewhere, make sure you know who will answer your follow-up questions.

This matters most if you move cities, travel or run short of tablets. Ask your doctor for a short summary note you can show another doctor, and keep your records private. With Dr. Monga Clinic, you can consult online from anywhere in India, so your doctor stays the same throughout your course.

What questions do people ask about this topic?