PrEP and PEP are the two prescription HIV prevention options for people at risk of exposure. PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is a pill taken before any exposure to prevent infection; PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) is a 28-day course of antiretrovirals started within 72 hours after a high-risk exposure to prevent infection from taking hold. At Take Care Clinic on Sukhumvit Soi 13, our English-speaking doctors prescribe both — with same-day PEP for urgent post-exposure cases, baseline-tested PrEP initiation for ongoing protection, and discreet hotel-visit appointments across central Bangkok.
Need PEP After a Recent Exposure?
PEP works best within 24 hours and must be started within 72 hours of the exposure. If you had a possible HIV exposure in the last three days, call or WhatsApp now — do not wait for office hours.
Phone: +66 62 674 6771
WhatsApp: +66 95 073 5550
Clinic: Take Care Clinic, Sukhumvit Soi 13, Khlong Toei, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
PEP: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
PEP is the emergency prevention option after a high-risk HIV exposure. It is a 28-day course of three antiretroviral medications taken daily, started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after the exposure. Within 24 hours is best; effectiveness drops steeply with each passing day. The standard Thai regimen pairs tenofovir disoproxil + emtricitabine (one combined pill daily) with dolutegravir (one pill daily). The combination is well tolerated for the four weeks; the most common side effects are mild nausea, headache, and fatigue in the first few days, settling thereafter.
Indications for PEP include unprotected receptive or insertive sex with a person of unknown or positive HIV status, condom break in a high-risk encounter, sexual assault, needle-stick injury or shared needle use, and contact with body fluids on broken skin or mucous membranes. The risk-benefit calculation favours starting PEP whenever exposure is genuinely possible; we run baseline testing (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, kidney function) at the first visit, dispense the first dose immediately, and review at the end of the course with confirmatory HIV testing at 6 and 12 weeks. For broader screening alongside the PEP regimen, our comprehensive STD test and HIV testing pages cover the panels and window periods.
PrEP: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
PrEP is daily medication taken by HIV-negative people at ongoing risk to prevent infection. Taken consistently, it reduces sexual transmission risk by over 99% — among the most effective HIV prevention tools ever developed. The standard regimen is one tablet daily of generic tenofovir disoproxil + emtricitabine. An alternative on-demand schedule (“2-1-1” dosing: two pills 2–24 hours before sex, one pill 24 hours later, one pill 48 hours later) is suitable for some men who have sex with men whose exposures are infrequent and predictable.
PrEP is appropriate for anyone with ongoing HIV exposure risk: multiple partners, a partner of unknown or positive HIV status not virally suppressed, sex workers and their clients, men who have sex with men, transgender women, people who inject drugs, and people in serodiscordant relationships before viral suppression is confirmed in the positive partner. We initiate PrEP after baseline HIV testing (to confirm negative status — starting PrEP during undiagnosed acute HIV infection can select for drug resistance), hepatitis B status, kidney function, and review of other medications. We then prescribe a three-month supply, repeat HIV and renal testing quarterly, and review for STIs every 3–6 months because PrEP prevents HIV but not other infections.
Side Effects and Monitoring
Tenofovir-based PrEP and PEP regimens are well tolerated by the majority of patients. Mild gastrointestinal upset and fatigue in the first weeks settle in most cases. Tenofovir disoproxil can slightly reduce kidney function and bone mineral density over the long term; we monitor with quarterly creatinine on PrEP. Tenofovir alafenamide is an alternative with less kidney and bone effect for patients with risk factors. Dolutegravir (used in PEP) is otherwise well tolerated; weight gain is the most consistent finding in long-term studies but is less relevant in a 28-day PEP course. Severe adverse events are uncommon. We discuss the side-effect profile at the start of each course so patients know what is normal, what is worth a phone call, and what is rare enough to ignore.
Hotel Visits, Confidentiality, and Logistics
PrEP initiation and PEP can both be delivered via our doctor hotel visit service anywhere in central Bangkok, with sample collection done in your hotel room and medication dispensed on the spot. Records are restricted to the treating team. Receipts can be issued without diagnostic codes on request. For PEP particularly, the priority is starting the first dose fast; we arrange the hotel visit or clinic appointment as quickly as the situation needs.
PrEP and PEP Costs in Bangkok
PrEP and PEP are substantially less expensive in Bangkok than in most Western countries. Generic tenofovir + emtricitabine for PrEP is about 1,500 THB per month with a doctor’s consultation included on initiation. A full 28-day PEP course (medication + baseline and follow-up tests) is 4,000 to 8,000 THB depending on regimen and test panel. The consultation alone is 1,500 to 2,500 THB. Hotel visit fees add 2,000 to 3,000 THB. Standard travel and expatriate insurance commonly covers PEP as medically necessary care; PrEP coverage varies by policy. We provide itemised English-language receipts and the appropriate ICD-10 codes for claims, or unmarked alternatives where preferred.
Get PrEP or PEP Today in Bangkok
Same-day PEP starts for urgent post-exposure cases. Baseline-tested PrEP initiation with quarterly review. Same-day clinic appointments and discreet hotel visits across central Bangkok.
Phone: +66 62 674 6771
WhatsApp: +66 95 073 5550
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast do I need to start PEP after exposure?
Within 24 hours is ideal, within 72 hours is the absolute window. Effectiveness falls steeply after the first day. If you had a possible exposure in the last three days, contact us immediately rather than waiting for office hours.
Can I take PrEP for short periods only?
Yes, in some situations. Daily dosing is the standard. “2-1-1” event-driven PrEP is an alternative for some men who have sex with men with predictable exposures. We discuss which pattern fits your situation at the initiation consultation.
Will PrEP or PEP protect me from other STIs?
No. PrEP and PEP work only against HIV. They do not prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C, or other infections. Routine STI screening every 3–6 months alongside PrEP is standard, and condoms remain useful for non-HIV prevention.
Are the side effects serious?
Most people tolerate PrEP and PEP well. Mild nausea, headache, or fatigue in the first weeks usually settles. We monitor kidney function quarterly on long-term PrEP. Severe side effects are uncommon, and any patient developing significant symptoms should contact us promptly.
Can I get PrEP or PEP at my hotel?
Yes. Both can be initiated via our doctor hotel visit service, with samples collected in your room and medication dispensed on the spot. Particularly useful for PEP when speed matters or when privacy is a priority.
References
1. World Health Organization. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation guidance. Available at: who.int.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) guidelines. Available at: cdc.gov/hiv/prep.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) guidelines. Available at: cdc.gov/hiv/pep.
4. International Antiviral Society-USA. Prevention and treatment of HIV: 2024 recommendations. JAMA. Available at: jamanetwork.com.
5. Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre — PrEP services. Available at: trcarc.org.