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HIV remains a serious issue, causing alarm among lovers for many years. In 2012, a pill came out to help prevent catching this disastrous disease and create a safer environment for people to engage in sexual relations. Truvada hit the market with a claim that it is 99% effective against the HIV virus (though there has been some conjecture around this claim).
So why isn’t everyone taking it?
It was a quiet release. Not many people stay informed and up to date on serious issues so it gets lost within the gossip about the newest season of Teen Mom.
So What is Truvada?
In scientific terms, Truvada is a fixed-dose combination of two antiretroviral drugs used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It’s a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and teenagers. Truvada also helps reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection or AIDS. It’s highly recommended for adults who are at a high risk of getting the virus or passing it to others.
Though it has been tested to be highly effective against HIV, Truvada does not make you immune. It is still recommended that you get tested at least every three months and practice safe sex.
It is important to know that Truvada does not cure HIV or AIDS. It’s simply meant as another form of protection to stop the transmission of the virus from one person to another.
Effective, But Not Foolproof…
A 43-year-old man in Toronto was infected after taking Truvada for 24 months. The HIV health site Poz reports that he’s believed to have encountered a rare strain of the virus that’s resistant to the two medicines that make up Truvada. It was not a case of refusing to take the medicine since pharmacy records show that the man had filled his prescription consistently and on schedule.
A recent analysis of the blood sample the man gave for the test that first indicated he was HIV positive showed that he had high blood levels of both drugs included in Truvada at that time.
In an interview with Poz, the man explained that Truvada had a definite effect on the way he lived his life. He became more confident about forgoing condoms because his commitment to taking the drug. Taking the pill everyday led him to say, “I was having sex to enjoy it. And if I was wearing a condom or the other person was wearing a condom, I wouldn’t enjoy it.”
From his perspective, he understood the risks associated with the drug and feels as if it didn’t fail him—a particular sexual encounter did. “If I had to do it all over again, I would still go on [Truvada]. I just wouldn’t have sex with that specific person.”
A Needle in a Haystack
While it’s scary to think someone taking Truvada as directed was still infected, this has been the only case of infection since the drug’s release. To be more specific—it’s the only confirmed infection of anyone taking the recommended dose as directed. When performing studies, some men contracted the virus.
These men failed to take the correct dosage and would go days without taking Truvada.
The recommendation is 4 pills a week, which is claimed to be 94% effective against HIV-1. For better results, take it every day, which, according to the study, ups it to around 99% protection.
Side Effects
Common side effects are the usual—nausea, tiredness, diarrhea, headache, depression, and sleeping problems. However, it’s important to stay cautious while taking prescription pills like Truvada. Serious side effects can include bone problems, kidney problems (including kidney failure), changes in body fat, and changes in immune system.
Overall, Truvada is a game changer. It can help stop the massive spread of HIV we’ve seen over the past couple decades. While it claims to be over 90% effective, it’s still important to practice safe sex and get tested regularly. So if you’re sexually active, I suggest you talk to your doctor about Truvada. We each have a responsibility for creating a safer world.
