Why Does My PrEP Look Different?

Opened a new box and the pills look different from last time? Don’t stress. This is normal, and your PrEP is still doing its job.

In Australia, PrEP is dispensed as a generic version of the original brand, Truvada. Different manufacturers make pills that can look a little different from each other, but every genuine generic contains the same active ingredients, tenofovir disoproxil and emtricitabine, the medicines that protect you against HIV. Studies in the UK have shown the generic versions work just as well as the original brand.

So if your pharmacy dispenses a different brand this month, or your tablet is a new colour or shape, you can feel reassured it’s genuine and effective. The look changes. The protection doesn’t.

If you’ve got questions about your PrEP, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Here’s how PrEP access works in Australia.

Stay safe, team.

Dr George