PrEP or pre-exposure prophylaxis is an available prescription medication that can help reduce the chances of contracting HIV-1. It’s not always made clear through Truvada commercials exactly what the differences are between the two different strings of HIV and how exactly each can be transmitted. Truvada commercials also don’t dive into the exact requirements to begin the medication or exactly how they help prevent contracting HIV. Contact our experienced mass tort attorneys for more information.
What is HIV?
HIV is the acronym for human immunodeficiency virus. This particular virus makes it so that your body is unable to fight off infection and becomes more vulnerable to new infections. Essentially it brings your white blood count down so low that your body may not be able to battle a common cold or the annual flu. It’s important to note that people do not typically die of HIV or AIDS but instead, complications from the virus.
After three stages of HIV, it is likely that the virus will progress and develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS.
Two Different Strains of HIV – Know the Differences
The scientific community is still trying to understand the differences between HIV-1 and HIV-2. The most commonly cited differences are that HIV-2 is more difficult to spread and contract; however, it is also less responsive to treatment and may progress faster than the HIV-1 strain.
Additionally, even modern testing may provide false results. By and large, HIV testing evaluates for the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus type one. It is possible for someone to take an HIV test and test negative because the test did not seek to identify HIV-2.
Ultimately, both strains weaken a person’s immune system to the point where they are vulnerable enough to infection and disease that it can quickly become a deadly situation. But both are also manageable, and medication and treatment can help extend the life and improve the quality of life of an infected person.
Determining the Requirements for Taking Truvada
The requirements to take Truvada have changed over the last few years periods you may have even heard in some recent commercials that some forms of anti-retroviral medication used for preventative measures may not be right for persons assigned as female at birth.
Additionally, anyone who has tested positive for HIV cannot take Truvada. In order to be considered for a Truvada prescription, you must test negative for HIV-1 and continue to take HIV tests, which come up negative. Finally, all Truvada users must be over 77 pounds.
Given the backlash and severe side effects that can come with taking Truvada, anyone with a high risk for HIV should expect the requirements for taking Truvada to continue to change over the upcoming years.
Truvada Only Prevents HIV-1
Truvada only treats one strain of HIV. HIV-2 is not responsive to anti-retroviral Medication as a preventative measure. In fact, anti-retroviral medication in the treatment of HIV-2 is not always effective.
However, the medical community still suggests that an anti-retroviral therapy treatment be started for those with HIV-2 as soon after diagnosis as possible.
Because Truvada only prevents HIV-1, it’s important that everyone using Truvada practice safe sex as well. Truvada does not prevent HIV-2 or any other STD or STI, which means that it’s on each patient to continue to lower their risk of infection and contraction of the sexually transmitted disease in addition to taking PrEP.
Damages and Injuries from Truvada Prescriptions
Truvada at first seemed like the end of the AIDS epidemic. It seemed as though the opportunity to allow high-risk groups to take a daily medication to lower the risk of contracting HIV and through practicing safe sex, AIDS may become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, it’s 2020, and HIV, as well as AIDS, are still ever-present in our society.
The very thing that seemed like it would bring HIV to a manageable level, Truvada, has led to even more health issues for high-risk communities. Because of poor advertising and the lack of information provided to medical professionals, patients taking Truvada or weren’t given all of the information on possible side effects. If you experienced renal failure, kidney damage, or bone density loss, then you should seek out your legal options. Given the nature of HIV, if someone in a high-risk group were to contract HIV after taking Truvada for years and experiencing these negative side effects, they could be in a worse position than if they had not taken PrEP. Call us today for more information.
