72- Hour Doxy PEP

Doxy PEP overview
Doxycycline (or “doxy” for short) is a common antibiotic.
Recent research shows that taking doxycycline within 3 days (or 72 hours) after sex can help some people reduce the chances of getting syphilis, chlamydia, and, in some studies, gonorrhea. This prevention strategy is called doxy PEP.

Dosing instructions
Take 200 mg of doxycycline as soon as possible, within 72 hours, after anal, oral, or vaginal/front-hole sex. Don’t take more than one dose of doxy in a 24-hour period, regardless of how many times you have sex in a day. You can take doxy PEP as often as every day if you need.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how many pills you need to take to get one dose of doxy PEP, which is 200 mg of doxycycline.

Strategies to reduce side effects
In general, people can take doxycycline without significant side effects. You can minimize your risk of side effects like nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea, and sensitivity to the sun with these tips
– Take doxy PEP with some food in your stomach
– Take doxy PEP with at least eight ounces of water and do not lie down for one hour after taking doxycycline
– Do not take doxycycline within two hours of having any dairy products, antacids and supplements with iron, calcium, or magnesium
– Wear sunscreen or cover up to stay protected from the sun while taking doxy PEP, since some people may be more sensitive to the sun when taking doxycycline

Follow-up visits
You should continue to see your healthcare provider every 3-6 months. Regular HIV and STI screening is important to identify and treat any infections. The dose of the antibiotic used in doxy PEP is not strong enough to treat an STI if you have one. Instead, your healthcare provider can help you get the medicine you need.