Tips for PrEP Adherence

• First off, kudos to you for taking proactive steps in reducing your risk of getting infected with HIV by taking PrEP! Here are some tips and tricks for taking your PrEP consistently.
• Set up reminders. Set an alarm to keep yourself on track or use a medication reminder app. Here are some phone apps recommended to help you create a consistent schedule. They are all available in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
  • Medisafe Medication Management
  • GoodRx
  • Round Health
• Make it a part of your daily routine. Take your medication at the same time as something that’s already part of your daily routine, such as brushing your teeth, eating breakfast or going to bed. This can help you take your meds at the same time every day and establish a routine that’s easy to follow.
• Organize your pills. Weekly pill organizers are an effective way to keep track of your medications. Organizers come in different sizes and are helpful when you have multiple pills. Just make sure to refill it each week!
• Plan ahead for refills. Planning is necessary to make sure you always have your medication when necessary. When you fill each prescription, check the bottle for the number of remaining refills. Call your doctor for a new prescription when one refill is left or sign up for automatic refills through your pharmacy. If you plan to travel, count your pills to make sure you have enough medication while you’re away and in case you have unexpected travel delays. It’s best to take your medications in their original containers, and when flying, keep them with you in your carry-on luggage.
• Missing a dose of PrEP. It’s important to take your pill every day, but every now and then it’s perfectly human to forget. If you routinely take your pill at night, for example, and remember when you wake up in the morning, it is fine to take your missed dose with breakfast. If you don’t remember until the next evening, it’s not necessary to take a double dose. The opposite scenario also works: If you usually take your pill in the morning but forget to do so, just take it when you remember that same day. If you don’t remember until the next morning, just pick up where you left off, and do your best to remember next time. If you’ve missed a dose, you do not need to take two pills the following day.
• I’ve already started using PrEP, I want to take my pill at a different time. No problem! For example, if you decide to start taking it before bed rather than in the morning, just make the switch. On the day you make the switch, you can either take a dose in the AM, and then again in the PM to get on the new schedule or just skip the AM dose and take it in the PM to get on the new schedule.