Note: This page has been updated following the July 2022 WHO Implementation Guidelines
What is PrEP?
You probably heard of PrEP, but we want to make sure that you get all the facts right. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a pill consisting of a combination of two drugs, which when taken correctly by people who are not living with HIV, is very effective in the prevention of HIV. This is not a new or experimental drug, and although it has only been made available in local pharmacies lately, the drug has been credited for a drop in the rate of new HIV cases elsewhere in the world.
A study by The Kirby Institute in 2019 has shown how Australia saw drop in rate to a five-year low (a decline of 23%) as a result of commitment by government, healthcare, the community and research sector, in amongst others, promoting PrEP among gay and bisexual men. This is why we believe that PrEP is one of the most powerful weapons we have got against HIV.
How do I go about buying it?
Start by calling the GU Clinic for an appointment. They will carry out a test for HIV, Hepatitis B and carry out a kidney function test to ensure that it is 100% safe for you to start taking PrEP. Ignore advice by friends who may suggest skipping this step. Take it from us. What they’re saying is complete nonsense.
Once you start taking PrEP, the GU Clinic will ask you to visit them once every three months, to assess kidney status and to screen for both HIV and other STIs. Like any other drug, PrEP needs regular monitoring, but in this case, it is fairly easy and straightforward.
Getting PrEP from Malta
Since May 2019, generic PrEP is available from the below pharmacies at a price of €56.70 for 30 tablets. Find the closest pharmacy in the map below.
Getting PrEP Online
PrEP is cheaper when bought online, but do not just look up PrEP on the internet and buy it from anywhere. Make sure that you know what the source is. Our partners at www.prepingmalta.com suggest Dynamix International, an accredited seller that provides generic PrEP in Malta at a very competitive price.
What is Generic PrEP?
The pills sold both in local pharmacies and on Dynamix International are known as generics. These pills contain the same active ingredients of other more expensive pills such as Truvada (Emtricitabine and Tenofovir). This makes the pills cheaper than the branded drug, but still have the same effect and are approved by the FDA. If you use another website that is not Dynamix, make sure that you look for FDA approval. It is suggested that you consult with the GU Clinic before choosing your medicine, to make sure that you’re taking the right treatment.
Taking PrEP
Ok, so you bought PrEP. Now what? There are various ways to take PrEP. Follow the instructions below to the letter in order to ensure that you are protected.
Continuous
This will give better protection to those who need daily protection.
Start PrEP 7 days before having sex
Take one pill daily with or without food, at the same time each day, give or take a few hours
Do not stop PrEP until at least 2 days, but ideally after taking 28 pills (once daily) after the last sexual encounter
This method is ideal for individuals whose partner is living with HIV
Event-Driven PrEP (Previously PrEP on Demand)
Event-Driven PrEP is an alternative to Daily PrEP, but not everyone can take it.
Start by taking 2 pills between 2 and 24 hours (ideally closer to 24 hours) before having sex, with or without food
Take 1 pill per day at the same time you took your first dose
Take 1 pill per day until 2 days after the day of the last potential sexual exposure (2 full days without sexual exposure)
If your sex activity last for more than one day, keep taking 1 pill daily, always at the same time as previous doses. Keep taking pills 1 daily and stop only 2 days after the last encounter
Who can take Event-Driven PrEP?
Cisgender men and trans and gender diverse people assigned male at birth who:
have sexual exposure AND
are not taking exogenous estradiol- based hormones
Anything else I should know?
Refer to our FAQs for more information about PrEP but whilst you’re here, there are some things we want you to know:
Taking PrEP JUST before sex has got zero, nil, zilch effect. Let us repeat that. If you take a single, double, or triple dose, even an entire box of pills, just before sex, it will have absolutely NO EFFECT in preventing HIV transmission and it will only put pressure on your organs without working at all.
There are other methods for taking PrEP but they are not recommended by the GU Clinic, so neither do we.
PrEP will only protect you against HIV. Do not rely simply on PreP if you want to prevent other STIs such as Gonorrhea and Syphillis. Combine PrEP with other forms of protection for better peace of mind.
Do not take PrEP before getting tested. If someone who has already got HIV starts taking PrEP, they run the risk of HIV developing resistance against treatment drugs. This could lead to several difficulties when it comes to treating HIV and reducing viral load.
Our partners at PrEPingMalta have been advocating for easy access to PrEP in Malta for several years. Visit their website for more information about PrEP, and to read about experiences of people who have been taking PrEP, together with other very interesting information related to PrEP and HIV.
