Mindy & Betty's Medical Mysteries

Hepatitis B & PrEP

  • HIV PrEP contains Tenofovir Disoproxil and Emtricitabine
  • Tenofovir is active against both hepatitis B and HIV
  • If someone is being treated for chronic hepatitis B, they can also be prescribed PrEP if they are at risk of HIV. However, if PrEP isn't taken daily, correctly, if there are missed doses or PrEP is stopped, it can cause a potentially serious hepatitis B flare. The patient would need to be closely monitored and adherence checked regularly
  • A patient with chronic hepatitis B and on HIV PrEP should be managed by a hepatitis B specialist service alongside Sandyford
  • PrEP should be taken daily, not event–based to prevent a hepatitis B flare