3 minute read
Daily vs event-driven PrEP: what the difference means
Daily PrEP is widely established. Event-driven dosing is suitable only for specific people under an evidence-based protocol.
DIRECT ANSWER
An online consultation lets an EU-licensed doctor review your case and, if appropriate, issue an electronic prescription; each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense it.
Doctor reply in under 2 hours
Average doctor reply under 2 hours; at night and on public holidays it can take longer, always within 24 hours. A prescription only if appropriate.
EU-licensed doctors
Every case is reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor.
Electronic prescription
Each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense an approved prescription; some do not accept PDF prescriptions.
HOW IT WORKS
From consultation to collection
- 1
Consultation
Answer a secure medical questionnaire online.
- 2
Doctor reviews
An EU-licensed doctor personally assesses your case.
- 3
Prescription only if appropriate
The doctor replies in under 2 hours on average and issues a prescription only if it is clinically appropriate.
- 4
Collect at the pharmacy you choose
Take an approved prescription to the pharmacy you choose; each pharmacy decides whether it can dispense it.
People often hear about taking PrEP every day or around sex. These schedules are not interchangeable, and event-driven PrEP is not suitable for every body, exposure route or medicine. National recommendations and product authorisation also vary.
Daily PrEP
Daily dosing creates a steady routine and is the authorised schedule for established emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil products in the EU. It can suit frequent or unpredictable exposure and avoids calculating tablets around sex. Protection still takes time to build, and missed doses should be managed using clinician instructions rather than guesswork.
Event-driven PrEP
An evidence-based “2-1-1” schedule has been used in specific populations, particularly cisgender men having anal sex, under clinical guidance. Evidence is not equivalent for vaginal or frontal sex, injecting exposure or all gender groups, and the approach may be off-label. Timing is unforgiving, so it does not suit everyone whose sex is unplanned.
Choosing a schedule
Consider exposure route, frequency, ability to predict sex, hepatitis B status, kidney health and how reliably you can follow the schedule. Daily dosing may be simpler even with occasional sex; event-driven dosing may reduce tablet days for an eligible person. The safest choice is the one supported by evidence for you and followed correctly.
When to seek help
PrEP must not be started or restarted without excluding HIV infection at the appropriate time. Fever, rash, sore throat, swollen glands or a flu-like illness after a recent exposure may be signs of acute HIV and need prompt testing. A very recent high-risk exposure may call for urgent post-exposure prophylaxis instead; PEP is time-sensitive and should be assessed immediately.
What to prepare for a medical review
A PrEP review covers recent exposures, the timing and type of HIV tests, kidney function, hepatitis B status, other medicines, pregnancy where relevant, and a wider STI screen. Follow-up testing is essential even when you feel well. Protection depends on taking the agreed schedule correctly, and national access pathways can differ across Europe.
A calm next step
Do not switch schedules based on a social-media graphic. Ask a PrEP clinician to write down the exact loading, ongoing and stopping instructions and what to do after a mistake.
Clinical sources used: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control PrEP standards and European Medicines Agency product information for emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil.