Drugs that prevent HIV infection

Jamaica Gleaner News Drug treatment which may be taken after sex to prevent a woman from getting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are available in Jamaica. For HIV prevention after sex, the drug cost is between $1,000 and $8,000. This HIV treatment is called HIV post exposure prophylaxis or prevention (P.E.P.). It is prescribed by a doctor for persons who have had potential exposure to HIV. The treatment involves giving a course of the regular HIV medication to the person who had a potential exposure to HIV (for example, someone who had been raped). The regular HIV medications are called antiretrovirals (ARVs) and come in various combinations, for example, efavirenz plus lamivudine plus stavudine or zidovudine plus lamivudine plus indinavir. The medication must be given immediately after the potential exposure or within 24 to 72 hours, which is about the time it takes for HIV to integrate itself into human cell DNA. The treatment is given for one month"