Prescribing HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

PrEP is Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV. It is the use of antiretroviral medication to prevent HIV infection. PrEP can be used by HIV-uninfected individuals who are at risk of HIV infection either through sexual exposure or injection drug use.

PrEP has been approved by Health Canada; the drugs used for PrEP are tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC), which is available combined in a single tablet. This medication is available in a generic form in Ontario and is approved for use as PrEP.

Comprehensive guidance on when and how to prescribe PrEP is available at https://ontarioprep.ca/for-health-care-providers/. Clinicians can also request training on PrEP prescribing at the site, and a CME accredited online course on prescribing HIV PrEP is available, as well.

Canadian guidelines for HIV PrEP and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) are available.

For more information on PrEP and HIV testing, see Ontario Guidelines for Providers offering HIV Testing – HIV Testing Ontario.