Some interesting facts about PrPE in France and how they recommend using it

endlessdream · April 19, 2019

I just got my first prescription of four bottles of PrPE in France, and here are some interesting or even shocking facts (at least shocking to me):

1. It’s completely free, both for those who have French social security and those who are residing illegally in France. Actually France was the first country in the world which offered free access to PrPE in Jan. 2016.

2. PrPE in France is expensive, but nowhere as expensive as in the US. My four bottle of Truvada cost 1371.47 euros, which is, as I was told, less than one bottle of 30 pills in the US after the price increase. The generic version costs about 160 euros for 30 pills.

3. Both Truvada and the generic versions exist in France. The pharmacies can only offer the generic version if you want to use the Vital card to pay (meaning the pharmacy doesn’t charge you anything). You can also choose Truvada but then you need to advance the payment and then claim the refund from the social security.

4. At least three medical appointments are needed to get PrPE. The first one consists of a general consultation and you will be prescribed a series of tests including HIV, all types of STDs, and a renal function check. If you pass all, for four weeks, you are suppose to be extremely careful about any risk of HIV and STD infections, and then you will be checked again for HIV to reconfirm the seronegativity at your second appointment. Then you will get your three / four month prescription, retrievable at any pharmacy. One month later, an obligatory rental check is planned and the result must be verified by your doctor.

5. The PrPE can be prescribed by any doctor, but the first one is supposed to be from a specialist in a CeGIDD (Centre Gratuits d’Information de Dépistage et de Diagnostic). At least one time every year, you are supposed to visit a CeGIDD so they can verify if your doctor’s prescription and recommandations are appropriate.

6. Once every three months you are suppose to do a HIV and STDs check. After your doctor verifies the result, he/she can prescribe you the PrPE of the next session.

I remember some time ago I read a post here talking about the on-demand usage of PrPE. I confirm that it’s well approved in France. Here are some information I got from the brochures that CeGIDD distributes. One thing which they explain very well is, the on-demand taking is as effective and the continuous taking for gays. The only difference lies in vaginal sex. I think the schemas in the photos are self-explanatory. But if anyone has any questions, I’m happy to reply / discuss.