PEP and PrEP in Bang Tao
If a condom broke last night, or you woke up to a situation you did not plan for, there is a medication that can stop HIV taking hold — but only if you start it fast. PEP and PrEP in Bang Tao are available at any hour. PEP must begin within 72 hours of the exposure, and every hour inside that window improves how well it works.
PEP — after an exposure
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It is a 28-day course of anti-HIV tablets taken after a possible exposure, and it stops the virus establishing itself while your body clears it.
The rules are simple and strict. It must start within 72 hours. It works far better at 6 hours than at 60. You must finish all 28 days, even when you feel fine, because stopping early wastes the whole course.
When PEP is worth taking
The doctor assesses the actual risk rather than treating everyone who asks. It is usually offered after:
- Condom failure or no condom with a partner of unknown status
- Sex with someone known to be HIV positive and not on treatment
- Sexual assault
- Sharing needles
- A needlestick injury
If the risk was genuinely negligible you will be told that honestly, rather than sold a month of medication you do not need.
PrEP — before exposure
PrEP is the same idea in advance. Taken correctly it is highly effective at preventing HIV, and it suits people whose circumstances mean ongoing risk rather than a single incident.
It requires a negative HIV test before starting, along with kidney function bloods and hepatitis B screening. Those checks are not bureaucracy — starting PrEP with undiagnosed HIV can cause drug resistance. Follow-up testing continues every three months.
What it does not protect against
Neither PEP nor PrEP does anything about the rest. Syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis C are unaffected, and rates of those have risen among people relying on PrEP alone.
We test for the others at the same visit — see STD testing — and repeat testing during the course. Condoms still matter.
Side effects, and finishing the course abroad
Most people tolerate the medication well. Some have nausea, headache or tiredness in the first week, which usually settles. Taking it with food helps. If vomiting stops you keeping tablets down, contact us rather than skipping doses.
Many travellers start a course here and fly home part-way through. We give you the full 28 days where possible, plus written documentation of the drug, dose and dates, so a doctor at home can take over. Follow-up HIV testing is done at 4 to 6 weeks and again at 3 months after the exposure.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly do I need to start PEP?
Within 72 hours, and as close to immediately as you can manage. At 70 hours it is still worth starting. After 72 hours it is no longer effective, so do not delay to think it over.
How much does PEP cost?
You are paying for a 28-day course of antiretroviral medication plus the baseline blood tests, so it is one of the more expensive treatments we provide. The full cost is explained before you commit.
Can I get it in the middle of the night?
Yes. We are open 24 hours precisely because this is a treatment where the clock matters. Come in rather than waiting for morning.
Will anyone be told?
No. Treatment is confidential and nothing is reported to your hotel, insurer, employer or embassy.
Can a doctor bring it to my hotel?
The first assessment involves blood tests and is better done at the clinic, but a doctor hotel visit can handle follow-up reviews in your room.
Come in, or we come to you
Take Care Medical Clinic Bang Tao is open open 24 hours, 7 days a week on Bandon Road in Cherng Talay, a few minutes from Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Phuket. Walk in without an appointment, call +66 81 718 9080, or message us on WhatsApp. If you would rather not move, ask for a doctor hotel visit and we will come to your room.