How is injectable PrEP different from oral PrEP?

Both methods effectively protect you from HIV, but they have distinct profiles regarding protocol, efficacy, and side effects.

The choice between them depends on your lifestyle and what you prioritize.

Rhythm and administration

• Oral PrEP: Requires daily discipline (or rigorous planning for the "on-demand" schedule). It is self-administered.
• Injectable PrEP: Consists of an in-clinic appointment every two months for an injection administered by a healthcare professional.
  • Our service to make your life easier: To offer you maximum flexibility, we can administer the injection in our private room at the pharmacy, coordinate the delivery of your medication to another clinic, or discuss remote or at-home service options with you.

Clinical effectiveness

• Clinical studies have demonstrated that injectable PrEP offers superior protection against HIV compared to oral PrEP. Furthermore, one of the major advantages of the injection is that it eliminates the risk of missed doses, a critical factor for ensuring the effectiveness of oral PrEP.
• When taken rigorously as prescribed, oral PrEP offers protection that exceeds 99% against HIV transmission.

Tolerance profile and common side effects

• Oral PrEP: Very well-tolerated. Mild start-up effects (nausea, headaches) are possible. Kidney function is monitored as a precaution.
• Injectable PrEP: Bypasses the digestive system but frequently causes normal and temporary reactions at the injection site (pain, tenderness).

Time to effectiveness

• Oral PrEP: Effective after 7 days (for anal sex) or 21 days (for vaginal sex). (2 hours for on-demand oral PrEP)
• Injectable PrEP: Effective 7 days after the first injection for all types of sex.

Comparative summary: Pros and Cons

Oral PrEP (Pills)

• Pros: Flexibility (allows for "on-demand" use), autonomy, simple and quick to stop.
• Cons: The mental load of a daily pill, risk of missed doses compromising protection.

Injectable PrEP

• Pros: Peace of mind (no daily management), demonstrated superior efficacy, discretion.
• Cons: Appointment commitment, injection site reactions, complex discontinuation process that must be planned.

The choice is yours: the flexibility of the pill or the peace of mind of the injection.