HIV PEP and PrEP in Patong, Phuket: 24/7 Confidential HIV Prevention
Emergency post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) started the same visit within the 72-hour window, daily and on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), full baseline blood work and discreet follow-up. Walk-in or hotel-room visits across Patong, Kalim, Kamala and Karon, 24 hours a day. Clinically reviewed by the Doctor Patong Takecare Clinic medical team.
WhatsApp now, time-critical, fully confidential | Call +66 81 718 9080 | Find the clinic on Google Maps
Most people who message us about PEP do so in the middle of the night, frightened and unsure whether what happened actually counts as a risk. The honest answer is that the clock matters more than certainty. If a condom broke, if a needle was shared, if a sexual assault happened, or if the partner is HIV-positive or unknown, the safe move is to contact us inside the 72-hour window and let our medical team decide. PEP is far more effective than waiting and testing later. PrEP, taken before exposure, removes the panic entirely.
What PEP is and when it works
PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis, is a 28-day course of antiretroviral tablets started after a possible HIV exposure to stop the virus establishing itself. The medication does not treat existing HIV, it prevents new infection during the few days the virus needs to take hold. Effectiveness drops sharply with every hour of delay. Started inside 24 hours, PEP prevents the large majority of transmissions. Between 24 and 72 hours it is still worth taking, but the protection is lower. After 72 hours, there is no proven benefit, and we will pivot to careful testing instead. The regimen we use follows WHO and CDC 2024 guidance: tenofovir disoproxil with emtricitabine (TDF/FTC, brand Truvada) once daily, plus the integrase inhibitor dolutegravir 50 mg once daily, for 28 days. Raltegravir 400 mg twice daily is an accepted alternative, and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF/FTC, Descovy) with dolutegravir is used where renal function is borderline.
What we do at the first PEP visit
The first visit takes about 30 minutes. We take a brief, non-judgemental risk history, examine you if relevant, and run baseline tests: a 4th-generation HIV antigen/antibody test to confirm you are HIV-negative right now, creatinine to check renal function before tenofovir, hepatitis B surface antigen and core antibody, hepatitis C antibody, and a pregnancy test where applicable. We add a sexual health screen for syphilis (RPR), gonorrhoea and chlamydia (urine PCR or swab) because exposures that carry HIV risk usually carry these too. The first PEP doses are given the same visit, not the next day. You leave with the full 28-day course, a written follow-up schedule, our WhatsApp for side-effect questions, and a clear plan for HIV retesting at 4 and 12 weeks.
PrEP, the planned alternative
PrEP, pre-exposure prophylaxis, is for people who expect ongoing HIV risk, for example travellers with multiple new partners, anyone in a relationship with an HIV-positive partner who is not yet virally suppressed, or sex workers and their clients. Daily oral PrEP is one TDF/FTC tablet every day; it reaches full protection at around 7 days for receptive anal sex and around 20 days for vaginal sex, and is roughly 99% effective when taken correctly. The on-demand 2-1-1 regimen, validated for men who have sex with men, is two tablets between 2 and 24 hours before sex, one tablet 24 hours after the first dose, and one tablet 24 hours after that. PrEP requires an HIV-negative baseline, a creatinine check, and repeat renal and HIV testing every 3 to 6 months while you are on it. We run the entire programme from this clinic, including the prescription renewals you need before flying home.
PEP and PrEP at a glance
| Feature | PEP, post-exposure | PrEP, pre-exposure |
|---|---|---|
| When to start | Within 72 hours of exposure, ideally inside 24 hours. | Before exposure, daily or on-demand 2-1-1 for MSM. |
| Standard regimen | TDF/FTC plus dolutegravir 50 mg daily, for 28 days. | TDF/FTC one tablet daily, or 2-1-1 around sex. |
| Effectiveness | High inside 24 h, falls off by 72 h, no benefit after. | About 99% with correct daily or 2-1-1 use. |
| Baseline tests | HIV, creatinine, hep B and C, syphilis, pregnancy if relevant. | HIV, creatinine, hep B and C, full STI screen. |
| Follow-up | HIV retest at 4 and 12 weeks after exposure. | HIV and renal check every 3 to 6 months. |
doxyPEP for bacterial STIs
doxyPEP, doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, is a single 200 mg dose of doxycycline taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Recent CDC guidance shows it reduces syphilis and chlamydia substantially, with a smaller effect on gonorrhoea where resistance is rising. It does not protect against HIV. We discuss doxyPEP case-by-case alongside PEP or PrEP, particularly for men who have sex with men and trans women with recurrent bacterial STIs. It is not a replacement for condoms.
Privacy, cost and how the visit works
You can register with first name only and pay cash. Results are delivered to your personal WhatsApp or in clinic, never to a hotel front desk, and we do not bill insurance unless you specifically ask us to. For hotel visits, our doctor or nurse arrives in plain clothes with a discreet case. Thailand has a long-running public PEP and PrEP programme, partly subsidised through the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, and we will tell you honestly which route is most cost-effective for your situation, including a one-off traveller course versus longer-term local supply.
When to see a doctor
The decisions that need same-day action are a possible HIV exposure within the last 72 hours, where PEP can still work, and any flu-like illness in the weeks after a possible exposure, which can represent acute HIV seroconversion. Both are reasons to message us today rather than waiting until you get home.
A condomless sexual contact, condom break, needlestick or shared injection within the last 72 hours. Sexual assault, even if uncertain about details. A known HIV-positive partner who is not virally suppressed. Fever, sore throat, rash, mouth ulcers or swollen lymph nodes appearing 2 to 6 weeks after a possible exposure, which can be acute HIV. Severe nausea, vomiting, jaundice or dark urine while taking PEP, which may indicate drug intolerance and needs urgent review.
You are unsure whether what happened counts as a risk, or whether you are still inside the 72-hour window. A 15-minute confidential consult with our medical team gives you a clear yes or no on PEP, and starts treatment the same visit if it is indicated. WhatsApp +66 95 073 5550 for a discreet appointment or hotel visit.
Prevention and after-care
Consistent condom use remains the most effective single measure against HIV during travel and reduces the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections at the same time. For anyone with ongoing risk, PrEP shifts the question from emergency to routine, and we can start it within a few days of your first visit. After PEP, plan repeat HIV testing at 4 and 12 weeks, do not donate blood until the 12-week test is negative, and use condoms in the meantime. Avoid sharing needles, razors or any item that may carry blood. If a new exposure happens during the 28-day PEP course, do not stop, contact us.
Summary
HIV prevention in Patong is built around two pillars. PEP turns a 72-hour panic into a 28-day course of medication with a clear test schedule, and it works best when started inside 24 hours. PrEP turns ongoing risk into a managed daily or on-demand regimen with around 99% effectiveness, and is run from this clinic with routine renal and HIV monitoring. Both are confidential, both are evidence-based, and both are available 24/7 by walk-in or hotel-room visit.
“Almost everyone we start on PEP walks out calmer than they walked in. The tablets are the easy part. The decision to contact us inside 72 hours is the part that saves lives.”
Doctor Patong Takecare Clinic medical team
Frequently asked questions
How quickly do I need to start PEP after a possible HIV exposure?
As fast as possible, and certainly within 72 hours. PEP is most effective in the first 24 hours, still useful between 24 and 72 hours, and not recommended after 72 hours because by then the virus has had time to establish. Message us at any time of the day or night; the first tablets are dispensed at the first visit, not the following day.
What is the standard PEP regimen at Doctor Patong?
Our standard 28-day regimen is tenofovir disoproxil with emtricitabine (TDF/FTC, Truvada) once daily, plus dolutegravir 50 mg once daily. Where dolutegravir is not appropriate we use raltegravir 400 mg twice daily, and where kidney function is borderline we switch to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF/FTC, Descovy) with dolutegravir. This follows WHO and CDC 2024 guidance.
What is the difference between daily PrEP and 2-1-1 on-demand PrEP?
Daily PrEP is one TDF/FTC tablet every day and protects against HIV from receptive anal sex after about 7 days and vaginal sex after about 20 days. The 2-1-1 on-demand regimen, validated only for men who have sex with men, is two tablets 2 to 24 hours before sex, one tablet 24 hours after the first dose, and one tablet 24 hours after that. Both are around 99% effective with correct use.
What follow-up testing do I need after PEP?
An HIV antigen/antibody test at 4 weeks and again at 12 weeks after the exposure. We also recheck creatinine during the 28-day course if there were any baseline concerns, and repeat syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and hepatitis screening if we found anything on the first visit. Use condoms and do not donate blood until the 12-week test is negative.
Is PEP and PrEP at Doctor Patong fully confidential?
Yes. You can register with first name only, pay cash, and we do not bill insurance unless you specifically ask. Results are sent to your personal WhatsApp or held for in-clinic pickup, never to a hotel desk. For hotel visits, our staff arrive in plain clothes with a discreet case. Nothing is shared with employers, partners or insurers without your written consent.
Can I get PEP or PrEP at my hotel in Patong?
Yes, 24 hours a day. Our doctor or nurse can take baseline blood for HIV, creatinine and hepatitis, do a rapid HIV fingerstick to confirm a negative starting point, and start PEP or PrEP the same visit at your hotel anywhere in Patong, Kalim, Kamala, Karon and Surin. WhatsApp +66 95 073 5550 to arrange a discreet visit.
Sources
World Health Organization. Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, testing, treatment, service delivery and monitoring. who.int.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated Guidelines for Antiretroviral Postexposure Prophylaxis After Sexual, Injection Drug Use, or Other Nonoccupational Exposure to HIV. cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/prevention/pep.
British HIV Association. BHIVA guidelines on the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) 2018, updated 2024. bhiva.org/PrEP-guidelines.
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