What are the most common side effects of PrEP?

The most common PrEP side effects are mild and short-lived: nausea, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue and mild stomach upset. They usually appear in the first weeks of treatment and often settle within 2 to 4 weeks.

How long do PrEP side effects last?

Most mild PrEP side effects improve within 2 to 4 weeks as the body adjusts. If symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with daily life, contact your healthcare provider.

Can PrEP affect my kidneys?

Yes. Tenofovir (in Truvada and Descovy) can reduce kidney function in some people. Kidney function is checked with blood and urine tests, usually every 3 to 6 months. Tell your provider about swelling, fatigue, or changes in urination.

Can PrEP weaken my bones?

Long-term use of tenofovir may cause a small decrease in bone mineral density. This is usually minor, may stabilise over time, and is often reversible after stopping PrEP. Discuss bone health with your provider.

Which PrEP side effects need urgent medical care?

Seek prompt care for jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), severe abdominal pain, a serious allergic reaction (widespread rash, blistering, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing), or markedly reduced urination. These are rare but serious.

Should I stop taking PrEP if I have side effects?

Do not stop PrEP without speaking to your healthcare provider. Most side effects are temporary and manageable, and your provider can adjust monitoring or suggest ways to ease symptoms.

Can I create a personal summary of my PrEP side effects?

Yes. On the interactive body map you can tap to track the symptoms you are experiencing, then generate a personal health report that you can save as a PDF and share with your healthcare provider. The report sorts your effects into Expected, Monitor, and Urgent categories.

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Truvada · Descovy · Apretude · Lenacapavir Information only

Interactive symptom explorer

Where does it bother you?
Interactive PrEP symptom checker

Go beyond a plain checklist. Pick any symptom and get three clear answers: What is it?, Why it matters for PrEP, and What to do right now — so you can tell what is expected from what needs prompt medical care, then build a PDF report.

Medically reviewed by the Prepmedication.com Medical Review Team Last reviewed 3 July 2026 · Next review Jan 2027 · Written to CDC, WHO & USPSTF guidance · How we review →

Your health picture No effects tracked yet

Build your personal health report

Tap the + button on any symptom you are experiencing — on the body panel or in the lists below. We turn your selections into a clear picture of your health you can save as a PDF.

0 expected 0 monitor 0 urgent

0effects tracked

Browse symptoms by body area

Expand an area (e.g. Head & Brain) to see its symptoms, then tap + to add any you have. Each is tagged as PrEP-linked, Possible PrEP, or Other cause. New: Arms & Legs · Vessels & Nerves and the Apretude injection site (switch the map to Back view).

● PrEP-linked ● Possible PrEP ● Other cause

Understanding PrEP side effects

PrEP is very safe, and for most people the side effects are mild and short-lived. In the first weeks some people notice nausea, headache, tiredness or mild stomach upset as the body adjusts — these usually settle within about a month. Serious reactions are rare. Which effects matter most depends on the medicine: Truvada (TDF) needs kidney and bone monitoring, Descovy (TAF) is gentler but can nudge weight up, and Apretude and lenacapavir mainly cause injection-site reactions. Compare them on the medication comparison page.

The interactive body-map above sorts every effect into Expected, Monitor or needs prompt care. Below is a quick text summary of the most common effects by body area — tap any organ above for full detail and a personal PDF report.

Common PrEP side effects by body area

Head & brain — headache and mild dizziness in the first weeks; usually expected and self-limiting.
Stomach & gut — nausea, bloating and looser stools early on; taking PrEP with food helps. See how to reduce nausea.
Kidneys — tenofovir in Truvada can slightly lower kidney function, checked with routine blood tests (monitor). TAF and injectables are gentler.
Bones & joints — Truvada can cause a small, usually reversible drop in bone density (monitor); relevant mainly for older adults.
Skin — an occasional mild rash (expected); a severe blistering rash or facial swelling is rare and needs urgent care.
Whole body — tiredness in the first weeks; modest weight and lipid changes are linked more to Descovy — see PrEP & weight gain.
Genitals & urinary — new sores, discharge or pain are almost always an STI, not PrEP — get tested. PrEP doesn't prevent other STIs.

Expected vs. needs attention

Most early effects are expected and fade — keep taking PrEP and check in if they last beyond 2–4 weeks. Contact your provider promptly for jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), dark urine, severe belly pain, a blistering or spreading rash, face/throat swelling or trouble breathing, or a big drop in how much you urinate. If you may have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours and you're not on PrEP, see PEP — it's time-critical.

Learn more: PrEP 101 · side effects guide · options & dosing · drug-interaction checker · missed a dose? · dose reminder · find a clinic · PrEP & alcohol · FAQ · glossary · guides by community.

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It's often free, and you can usually start within a week — sometimes without leaving home. Take the 2-minute private check, or see exactly how to get a prescription.

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🔬 How this content is made · Sources

Our information is written to match current public-health guidance and reviewed by our Medical Review Team against the sources below. It is editorially independent — not written or funded by any drug manufacturer — and educational, not a substitute for personalised medical advice. See our Editorial & Medical Review Policy for the full process.

U.S. CDC — Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection: Clinical Practice Guideline (2021) & provider supplement.
U.S. CDC — Guidelines for the Use of Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP), 2024.
WHO — Consolidated Guidelines on HIV Prevention, Testing, Treatment, Service Delivery and Monitoring (2021, with 2022–2024 PrEP updates: event-driven & long-acting).
USPSTF — Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection: Recommendation Statement (2023).
U.S. FDA — labelling for Truvada, Descovy, Apretude (2021) and Yeztugo / lenacapavir (2025).

✔ Last medically reviewed: 3 July 2026 · Prepmedication.com Medical Review Team · Next review due: January 2027 · How we review →

Medical disclaimer. This interactive tool is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Side effects vary between individuals and medications. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist about PrEP, monitoring, and any symptom that concerns you. In an emergency, contact your local emergency services immediately.

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