Most people who use PrEP take it daily, 1 pill per day.
Some people use PrEP ‘on demand’ for a planned sexual event, sometimes called ‘event-based dosing’.

Starting PrEP

Updated guidance published in July 2025 gives simpler instructions for starting and stopping PrEP. Anyone starting PrEP (TD/FTC or TAF/FTC) should take 2 pills (a double dose) between 2-24 hours before sex.

Continue taking 1 pill per day, around the same time each day, until stopping PrEP. The guidance for stopping PrEP depends on the type of sex you are having.

Stopping PrEP

To safely stop taking PrEP for receptive vaginal, neovaginal, and frontal sex, continue taking 1 pill each day for 7 days after last sex, or until you have 7 sex-free days.

For all other types of sex, continue taking 1 pill each day for 2 days, or until you have 2 sex-free days.