PrEP

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication for HIV prevention.

PrEP Services

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) represents a significant advancement in the prevention of HIV for individuals at elevated risk due to sexual activity or intravenous drug use. This medication functions by inhibiting the HIV from establishing an infection within the body. At Pineapple Healthcare in Orlando, Florida, Erick Suarez, APRN, along with the dedicated team of HIV/AIDS care specialists, provides PrEP services tailored for individuals who are at higher risk for HIV acquisition. For further information regarding PrEP, please contact the office or schedule an in-office or telehealth appointment online at your convenience.

Frequently asked questions

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that reduces your risk of contracting HIV. When taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV. The FDA has approved three medications for PrEP. Two pills and one injection. These include: Truvada® Truvada is an oral medication prescribed for people at risk of getting HIV through sex or drug use. Descovy® Desovy is a pill for men and transgender women at risk of getting HIV through sexual activity. Apretude® Apretude is a long-acting injection approved to reduce the risk of HIV in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds. PrEP is safe, but may cause side effects such as stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, or headaches. However, these side effects resolve over time.

Pineapple Healthcare specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing infectious diseases. The team includes HIV/AIDS care specialists who determine if you’re a candidate for PrEP after a consultation. PrEP protects you from getting HIV. They may consider you a candidate for the treatment if you engage in activities that put you at risk of HIV, such as:

Having sex with someone who has HIV
Having sex without condoms
Having a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
Sharing needles or syringes for drug use
Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has HIV

The team performs an HIV test before prescribing PrEP. You can’t take this medication if you have HIV.

When you visit Pineapple Healthcare for a PrEP consultation, your provider reviews your medical and sexual history, as well as any other behaviors that might put you at risk of getting HIV. They also run lab work to test for HIV. You must take your PrEP medication as prescribed. For PrEP pills, the medication is most effective when you take it every day. When you start PrEP at Pineapple Healthcare, the team schedules regular follow-up appointments to test for HIV and refill your medication. The team offers low-to-no- cost PrEP prescriptions. PrEP protects against HIV, but it can’t protect you from other STDs. The team can talk totalks to you about safe sex practices to protect your health. To find out more about PrEP at Pineapple Healthcare, call the office or schedule an in-office or telehealth appointment online today.