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PrEP in Thailand: Cost and Where to Buy It
You can get PrEP at any local medical service provider, such as hospitals and clinics, in Thailand. However, do bear in mind that exact costs will vary depending on the provider. If taken correctly, you can then efficiently reduce your risk of HIV infections.
Are you an expat in Thailand looking to stay insured and safeguard yourself from HIV? This Pacific Prime Thailand article will discuss PrEP in Thailand, including what the drug is, the cost, and how you can get it to efficiently reduce your chances of getting HIV infections.
What is PrEP?
PrEP, short for Pre-exposure prophylaxis, is a medicine taken to prevent HIV infections and is highly effective when taken as prescribed. For instance, PrEP medication can reduce HIV infection risks from sexual intercourse by 99% and HIV infection risks from injection drug usage by 74%.
The following are individuals who are recommended to take PrEP:
- People who are HIV-negative and in an ongoing sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner.
- Anyone who isn’t in a mutually monogamous relationship with an HIV-negative partner.
- Heterosexual men or women who don’t regularly use condoms during sex with partners of unknown HIV status who are at risk of infections, such as people who inject drugs or women with bisexual male partners.
- Homosexual or bisexual men who had anal sex without condom usage or have been diagnosed with STD in the past six months.
- People who have injected drugs in the past six months, shared needles, or were in drug treatment in the past six months.
How and When to Take PrEP
For best efficiency, it’s recommended that you take PrEP everyday for at least seven days before any possible HIV exposure, to which the effects will last for one month. Create a routine of regular PrEP ingestion so that you won’t forget or skip any.
Some side effects like nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or stomach cramps may also happen but usually subside in one week. If you wish to stop your PrEP intake, stop it 28 days after your most recent possible exposure and, for good measure, get an HIV blood test to make sure you are HIV-negative.
The Cost of PrEP in Thailand
The exact cost of PrEP medication will vary depending on the healthcare provider but generally range from 2,000-5,000 THB (approximately USD $59.98-149.96). While the drug’s price on its own may not cost that much, there are other tests and medical services that should be taken into consideration.
For exact details on the cost, please contact your selected healthcare provider for additional details.
Getting PrEP in Thailand
In Thailand, you can get PrEP as well as STD treatment from various hospitals and clinics.
However, remember to call your selected healthcare provider beforehand to ask for important information first as each healthcare provider may require different preparations like examinations or blood tests before any prescriptions are made.
However, if your selected healthcare provider doesn’t have PrEP services available, you will be able to get recommendations as to where these services are available.
Once you’ve contacted your selected healthcare provider on the available PrEP service, you will be required to undergo a blood test before any PrEP prescription is made, which also means you must visit the healthcare provider in person to fulfill your PrEP prescription accordingly.
The reason for the blood test is because PrEP is made only for those who are HIV-negative. Thus, blood tests are required to make sure the person can take the prescribed medication without any fear of potentially harmful effects on their body.
Potentially Harmful Health Effects from Taking Long-Term PrEP
Long-term PrEP drug ingestion could potentially affect your kidney or liver health, to which you will need a kidney and liver function examination every three to six months after your PrEP ingestion.
In the event of any of the numbers in the test going up, your doctor may recommend that you stop the PrEP ingestion for some time or may offer you an alternative.
In rare cases, there may also be a possibility of bone density loss due to the PrEP to which your doctor will advise cessation of PrEP ingestion for bone density recovery.
Safety First: Condom Usage Amidst PrEP Intake
While PrEP is an effective way to prevent HIV infections, using a condom during sex is still strongly recommended as you never know if your partner is truly HIV-negative or not.
Additionally, neglecting condom usage will also leave you vulnerable to the transmission of diseases like herpes, genital warts, syphilis, chlamydia, or gonorrhea.
Differences from PEP: Are They the Same?
While similar, PrEP and PEP are two completely separate things that some may erroneously confuse for one another.
For instance, PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) is the HIV prevention drug taken to prevent HIV infections in advance and recommended for individuals who anticipate potential risks of infection from their partners so they can prepare.
On the other hand, PEP (Post-exposure prophylaxis) is a similar drug one must take after any potential HIV exposure such as sex without condom usage, accidental contact with infected blood, or accidental shared needle usage.
The PEP regimen must be taken within 72 hours of any potential HIV exposure to take effect and, if you take it quick enough, you can rest assured you will be safe from HIV infections.
Further reading: What Are the Early Symptoms of HIV?
Conclusion
PrEP can efficiently lower your risk of HIV infections by a long shot and can be acquired in various hospitals and clinics in Thailand. Remember that you must contact your healthcare provider to make sure that such services are available and verify exact costs.
Once you are given the medication, be sure to take it consistently everyday to boost your HIV infection immunity.
While the risk of HIV infections are uncertain, you can always craft a safety net for yourself and your family with a health insurance plan. Having a health insurance plan that covers the treatment you need and any prescription medication can ease the financial burden from injuries or illnesses.
While searching for a suitable plan may be daunting, especially with many different insurers to choose from at varying price points, we are glad to inform you that it doesn’t always have to be a nightmare and we are here to help you out.
As an experienced international health insurance broker, Pacific Prime Thailand has helped both local citizens and expats find a suitable health insurance plan, such as travel, international, maternity plans, and more, that ticks the boxes for both their budget range and specific healthcare needs.
Whether you’re an expat living in Thailand or a local Thai citizen yourself looking for adequate healthcare, our team of specialists will be more than happy to help you out with completely impartial advice at no additional cost.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Or, if you are interested in plan comparisons from multiple insurers, feel free to get a free quote here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How consistent should my PrEP drug intake be and how do I maintain the routine?
Upon prescription, you must take your PrEP medication for at least seven days, to which the medication will take effect and last up to a full month. It’s strongly recommended that you create a fixed routine for your PrEP intake to make sure you consistently take the drug without skipping.
What are some side effects of PrEP drugs and do they go away?
Some of the common potential side effects of PrEP intake include nausea, dizziness, stomach cramps, and fatigue. However, you will be happy to know that these symptoms are not severe and will usually subside within a week.
Why am I required to get a blood test when I go to the hospital for a PrEP prescription?
The reason why you are required to undergo a blood test as part of your PrEP prescription at the hospital is because PrEP is only made for those who are truly HIV-negative and doctors must make sure you can take the medication without any harmful side effects on your body.
Should I still use a condom even if I’m already taking my PrEP medication consistently?
Even if you’ve taken your PrEP medication consistently as prescribed by your doctor, continuing to use a condom is strongly recommended as you never know if your partner is truly HIV-negative or not. This will also help prevent transmission of diseases like herpes, genital warts, or syphilis.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.
He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.
In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
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