Need help urgently?

DoxyPEP

Doxycycline Post Exposure Prophylaxis or doxyPEP for short, is a treatment that can be prescribed to help prevent syphilis infection after condomless sex.

What is doxyPEP? 

DoxyPEP is an antibiotic medication (doxycycline) taken after sex. It is sometimes called DPEP or doxy PEP. Studies have shown it can help prevent syphilis and chlamydia infections. 

How do you take doxyPEP? 

Take doxyPEP as one 200 mg dose after condomless sex. It’s best to take it within 24 hours, but it still works up to 72 hours later. Only take one dose every 24 hours, no matter how many times you had sex during that time. If you have a lot of sex over a few days, you can just take one dose at the end of that 72-hour period. 

How to get doxyPEP 

We are able to offer doxyPEP to some people who attend the clinic depending on their individual risks and benefits. Please discuss this with the person you see at your next SHAC appointment. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about doxyPEP 

As with all medications, doxycycline can cause side effects for some people. Most commonly it can make you feel a bit sick and can cause a rash in the sunlight. We advise taking with plenty of water and using a high protection sunscreen (SPF 30-50) if you are in bright sunlight. 

Yes it does. Please let us know if you take any regular medications or herbal or diet supplements at your appointment. 

Yes. Although doxyPEP offers good protection against chlamydia and syphilis it is not 100% effective. Studies estimate it to be about 70-90% effective in protecting against both infections. If you have genital or anal symptoms, please book an appointment for testing. 

If you have had sex with someone who has an STI (including syphilis) we advise that you book an appointment even if you have taken doxyPEP as you may need treatment and testing. 

Doxycycline has been used for a long time and is safe for most people to use. Please tell us if you have any medical conditions so we can check it will be safe for you. 

At the moment there is limited evidence for how effective doxyPEP is for people with a vagina so we don’t routinely recommend it for cisgender women, trans men and non-binary people with a vagina. It is not recommended for use during pregnancy.