Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a prescription-only regimen of antiretroviral medication taken by HIV-negative adults to prevent acquisition of HIV-1 during high-risk sexual or injection exposure. Taken consistently, PrEP reduces HIV infection risk by over 99% (iPrEx, PROUD, Partners PrEP, DISCOVER trials).
MedsBase stocks the two clinically equivalent PrEP regimens used worldwide: TDF/FTC (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg — generic Truvada) and TAF/FTC (tenofovir alafenamide 25 mg + emtricitabine 200 mg — generic Descovy). TDF/FTC is first-line and approved for all at-risk populations including cisgender women, transgender people, and injection drug users. TAF/FTC offers better long-term renal and bone safety but is approved for HIV prevention in MSM and transgender women only — cisgender women seeking PrEP should use TDF/FTC. Manufacturers stocked include Cipla (Tenvir EM), Mylan/Viatris (Ricovir EM), Emcure (Tavin EM, Taficita), and Hetero (Tenof EM).
PrEP is prescription-only and requires confirmed HIV-negative status, baseline hepatitis B and renal function testing, and quarterly HIV + STI screening throughout therapy. PrEP prevents HIV transmission only — it does not protect against other STIs, which should be covered through condoms, DoxyPEP (see STD Protection Pack), and vaccination (HPV, HepA, HepB).