Experienced unusual side effects from Prep and Doxy

[Cretus]

Hi all,

I personally wanted to share some experiences regarding my use of descovy. I noticed that when I began using it around 4 years ago, I would experience weird tingly cool sensations around my body. I assumed that was normal and even a sign of medicinal internal uptake. 
 

Recently, the cool sensations became more intense, accompanied by all-over-the-body itching, pain, loose yellow stools (NOT accompanied with the painful stomach sensation of diarrhea), and cognitive slowdowns/headaches/physical imbalance/ etc.

Doctor told me that descovy and sometimes truvada, for a rare subset of people, can induce rare side effects like lactic acidosis, which can lead to a bunch of these symptoms. 
 

Since the day of halting descovy, my symptoms have drastically improved. 

I am halting sex for now while I figure out what HIV preventative medication will be best for me. Likely apretude.

Onto another topic: Doxy-pep  overuse also seemed to have irritated my pancreas somewhat. It’s another rare side effect. I have refrained from using it and my pancreas has improved.

 

It is important that you take medications designed to prevent the transmission of disease, but always be in touch with your doctor about what might work best for you, and what can be improved. I definitely don’t want someone to take away from this that they shouldn’t use PrEP at all.

Edited Tuesday at 02:34 PM by Cretus

[WoolCave]

I do the 2 1 1 prep since I’m far less of a whore than I used to be and I’m liking this method a lot more.  I feel protected and I find planning sex leads to better sex for me. 

[Cretus]

On 7/7/2026 at 10:20 AM, Cretus said:

Hi all,

I personally wanted to share some experiences regarding my use of descovy. I noticed that when I began using it around 4 years ago, I would experience weird tingly cool sensations around my body. I assumed that was normal and even a sign of medicinal internal uptake. 
 

Recently, the cool sensations became more intense, accompanied by all-over-the-body itching, pain, loose yellow stools (NOT accompanied with the painful stomach sensation of diarrhea), and cognitive slowdowns/headaches/physical imbalance/ etc.

Doctor told me that descovy and sometimes truvada, for a rare subset of people, can induce rare side effects like lactic acidosis, which can lead to a bunch of these symptoms. 
 

Since the day of halting descovy, my symptoms have drastically improved. 

I am halting sex for now while I figure out what HIV preventative medication will be best for me. Likely apretude.

Onto another topic: Doxy-pep  overuse also seemed to have irritated my pancreas somewhat. It’s another rare side effect. I have refrained from using it and my pancreas has improved.

 

It is important that you take medications designed to prevent the transmission of disease, but always be in touch with your doctor about what might work best for you, and what can be improved. I definitely don’t want someone to take away from this that they shouldn’t use PrEP at all.

As a bit of further information, a very comprehensive blood test revealed high LDH (lactic dehydrogenase), low carbon dioxide (Co2), and elevated anion gap (18). These signals, taken together, are suggestive (not necessarily CONCLUSIVE evidence) of acidosis. We finally tested directly for lactic acid in blood. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Cretus

[Colton]

On 7/8/2026 at 11:52 PM, WoolCave said:

I do the 2 1 1 prep since I’m far less of a whore than I used to be and I’m liking this method a lot more.  I feel protected and I find planning sex leads to better sex for me. 

My doctor said 2-1-1 doesn’t work with Descovy.  It’s only been tested on the original prep (Truveda?).  Just want to flag that for you.  

[BigDMike]

Am I imagining or did I read somewhere that theirs an ideal time to take Doxy?  (Yes, I know re: sex) Meaning, I think it was either with food, without food...in the morning or at bed time.  Something about side effects but I can't remember if it was nausea or keeps you awake....

I have it and haven't needed to take it that often but I remember reading something and then thought I saved it to reference later but can't find

 

[+ FrankR]

1 hour ago, BigDMike said:

Am I imagining or did I read somewhere that theirs an ideal time to take Doxy?  (Yes, I know re: sex) Meaning, I think it was either with food, without food...in the morning or at bed time.  Something about side effects but I can't remember if it was nausea or keeps you awake....

I have it and haven't needed to take it that often but I remember reading something and then thought I saved it to reference later but can't find

 

You’d be better off asking your medical professional instead of random people on a public forum with lots of opinions but little medical knowledge… 🤓

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

1 hour ago, BigDMike said:

Am I imagining or did I read somewhere that theirs an ideal time to take Doxy?  (Yes, I know re: sex) Meaning, I think it was either with food, without food...in the morning or at bed time.  Something about side effects but I can't remember if it was nausea or keeps you awake....

I have it and haven't needed to take it that often but I remember reading something and then thought I saved it to reference later but can't find

 

To minimize stomach pains, my doctor recommended to take Doxy with food but not dairy. 

I've forgotten this advice before and taken Doxy on an empty stomach, and it took me a few hours to realize why I was feeling terrible.  Also, don't take Advil with Doxy!