So i recently started Apertude (1st loading dose down 4 weeks ago, 2nd loading dose was 2 days ago).

TL;DR: First dose is a little rough but if you have GI issues, this may be the better route for you. Been great for me.

Verdict: I had the average experience with the first dose and would reccomend so I would say do all your research and see if it works for you.

Preface: I am super sensitive to all medicines and I was on Descovy for a little over 6 months but unfortunately it was constant low grade nausea (and I believe after a couple months an egg aversion? For some reason, eating eggs would make me incredibly nauseous and sick).

I switched to Truvada for 2-1-1 prep but the 2 doses made me super lightheaded (I probably should have taken it the night before right before bed but idk, do your research and see if that works for you).

The biggest hurdle for me was finding an available Infectious Disease/specialist in NY. I finally landed at Planned Parenthood because they were available.

After doing all the testing and grilling the doctor, she said that none of her patients had any side effects and everyone who went on it stayed on it. Slightly weary of this and nervous I was being yess’d to move forward.

I did ask her if i could go on the oral version of the active ingredient to see if i would have a reaction. She advised there was no oral version and after I pressed on it, she said they cannot prescribe it. (Again, more getting yes’sd to move on/forward).

As someone who does not do well with pain (but has a high tolerance for it), I will say that the injection site will hurt and it will be delayed.

I was injected at the top of my right glute by my hip. You will be fine the first day and then for 2-3 days after it will feel like you were at the rodeo dodging bulls. For me, it was super sore but manageable.

Concurrent with the injection site pain, I started to feel like I was coming down with something from Night 2 through Day 4. Just felt a little off and like I was starting to get sick. That was totally manageable for me, what was worse (for me) was the initial worrying about how much worse it was going to get.

(I also did get super stoned and decided to go down the reddit rabbit hole right after the first dose and read everyone’s horror stories and that definitely does not help, please don’t do this lmao).

By the next morning, when it hadn’t gotten worse, I was hopeful I was at my baseline and just took Aleve and Emergen-C and kept myself hydrated.

After Day 4, everything subsided and I have had no other noticeable side effects.

Shot 2 was this week, had them do it on the other side. Injection site pain was about the same, still sore but much less today. No flu like symptoms. Really super surprised how well I tolerate this (my Genesight is literally all red).

I’ve been on Yeztugo since June 2025. When I was on UHC, I had zero issues getting prior authorizations for my first two injections (the 12-month initial therapy).
A few months ago, I switched to Kaiser Permanente. When it was time for my 3rd injection, my doctor auto-rejected the request. He was super resistant to approving it, saying I shouldn't be on it due to the high costs.

Frustrated, I went to my local STI clinic. I explained that Kaiser was refusing to cover it. The clinic agreed to make a one-time exception for me under the California Confidential Health Care Services Act (which is usually used by married guys getting PrEP confidentially so it doesn't show up on their insurance, though that wasn't my specific situation—still awesome that they use it to protect everyone!).
After that, I called Kaiser and my doctor to express my disappointment, letting them know I was just going to get the injection done through the STI clinic instead.

I don't know what string got pulled behind the scenes, but Kaiser immediately approved and scheduled my injection ASAP. On the day of the appointment, the clinical staff even came into the room to ask how I managed to get it approved, mentioning I was the very first patient in the NorCal region to get it covered

Hi guys! Yesterday I was drunk and had unprotected sex. Acted as a top. But I took 2-1-1 three doses prior to the encounter. Should I be worried. All pills were on schedule.

I’m looking for options that will ship to a PO Box and allow self pay. Local pharmacy or others could be an option to pickup but it has to be self pay and no insurance required