Good Day.

First...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL WORK DONE, MUCH APPRECIATED!

I was also exposed to HIV (this is a fact). I also went to a hospital and was told I will have to go through the PEP. I was only given COMBIVIR and took two on the 36th HOUR (is this still a good time to stop HIV?) of exposure. I then continued one, twice a day. In the first week I had flu symtoms and treated it with normal flu medication and the flu went away on the 6th day from the day I started the COMBIVIR. Is the flu a side effect of COMBIVIR or is it HIV that has converted within my body. Also, I was given a presciption for COMBIVIR only for 30 days, should I request to continue for another 3 weeks. And do I also have a < 80% - 90% of not having HIV if the drug is only taken for 30 days and if I had a flu?. And is there a prescribe time for combivir to be taken. Kindly assist as, once again, I cant get any straight answers from my Doctor.

Hi,

First off, if you can't get a straight answer from your doctor, it may be time to find a new doctor!

PEP should be started as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours after an HIV exposure. Consequently, your 36-hour start time is well within this range.

Combivir and virtually all other HIV meds can cause a variety of side effects and toxicities. Over the Internet there is no way for me to determine if your symptoms were related to Combivir, HIV ARS or perhaps a common flu.

A full course of PEP is 28 days. There is no reason to extend beyond this recommended full course.

Combivir should be taken twice per day, morning and evening. It does not require a strict 12-hour dosing interval.

Good luck!

Dr. Bob