No Prescription Required...

 

This piece says Colorado will soon make it possible to get PEP (post exposure) & PrEP without a prescription & insurance will have to cover it.  This may sound awesome, but it isn't.  I don't have a problem with the PEP part.  If a person has been exposed to HIV, then PEP should begin ASAP.  However, I've always had a problem with PrEP & allowing it without a prescription.

PrEP meds are HIV meds & those require lab work & maintenance.  This article doesn't talk about seeing a doctor, getting labs drawn or the damage HIV drugs can cause to your body.  Allowing PrEP without a doctor is stupid.  

PrEP gives too many people a sense of invulnerability.  It has to be take regularly to be effective.  It doesn't protect against any other STI's or pregnancy. What does & is cheap? DING DING DING!!!  If you guessed, condoms, you are correct.

But they don't like condoms.  They want to be impulsive & spontaneous.  They don't like the feeling.  So, nice of Colorado to help these needy people screw the way they want to.  Not to mention spread other STI's that are rapidly becoming resistant to meds.  Everyone say, "Yay!" for Colorado. 

Rant's over, take care.

Cya...

Seriously California WTF...

IMO, good intentions have struck again in California.  According to this piece & others, the state decided to allow pharmacists to provide HIV prevention meds (PrEP) without a prescription.  This starts the January.  Bad points here.

• PrEP is a serious med with potentially life threatening side effects & interactions.
• How much cost assistance will there be with no script?
• This pushes an expensive medication instead of education &  condom usage.
• Every misuse of these meds could lead to HIV resistance.

This is a serious medication, a variation on a typical HIV drug regimen.  It has side effects, interactions & concerns.  Luckily the pharmacist can only give a 60 day supply, before the patient is required to see a physician.  These meds can harm a person.  Oversight & labs are needed on a regular basis.   

The cost of this will be immense.  Again, without a script, who will foot the bill?  Why not aim these monies at education & promoting condom usage.  Condoms aid in preventing much more than just HIV.  

PrEP use has risen dramatically in the last decade, but so has vaping.   They're investigating vaping, why not some caution on this matter?   I know the state had good intentions, but this could go very badly.

Cya...