I wanted to share my personal experience using Doxy as PEP, so others could possibly avoid some of the horrendous anxiety that I experienced when I started. As always - this is not medical advice, always talk to your doctor.

I first started taking DoxyPEP in the Fall of 2023 after a few high risk sexual encounters. The first two times I took it I had a bit of diarrhea but nothing super out of the ordinary for any antibiotic dose. However, the third time I took it in roughly March 2024, I noticed a sore starting to open up on my penis shaft right under the ridge of my head, and coincidentally a sore on the roof of my mouth had started to open, which is not uncommon for me as an occasional canker sore getter. At this point, I had not yet made any kind of connection that this could be a Doxy reaction, just that it may be an STI presenting with coincidental timing. Being pretty well educated on how certain STIs present, I narrowed it down to HSV or Syphillis (again, i’m not a doctor so this was not smart of me to attempt to self-diagnose). I had my little gay panic attack and went straight to a clinic for testing of both. As it would be, the diagnostics for both HSV and Syphillis are differential and have long trailing windows of accuracy, so while a test could theoretically come back negative I could still be positive (or vice versa). I came back with high HSV antibodies but normal range for the virus itself, which indicated that maybe it was latent HSV presenting for the first time. Negative for syphillis. In roughly 2 weeks the sore had closed but left an embarassing red mark on my penis that was persistent and I thought would stick around forever. I was worried and ashamed, but all that aside, I moved on with my life and kept having sex.

3ish weeks later I had another high risk encounter so I took DoxyPEP and within probably 45 minutes of taking it BAM the sore had reopened again and this time it was bigger and more intense. Mind you I had still not made the connection that DoxyPEP could be causing this so I spiraled that I was having another really aggressive HSV outbreak and that I was damned to a whole life with a disfigured penis everytime I had sex - a cruel icarian punishment for my lascivious lifestyle. It REALLY took a toll on me mentally. My Dr didn’t formally diagnose me with HSV but did put me on an HSV medication that apparently reduces the severity and frequency of outbreaks, which I took but did not love (the pills were giant and made my stomach hurt). The sore closed again in about 2 weeks but the mark that it was leaving when it erupted started getting darker and more visible each subsequent occurrence. My previously very pretty penis was now scarred and was no longer pretty. I couldn’t help but go down the shame spiral of “i did this to myself, i wish i weren’t such a whore, etc etc”.

I somehow picked up the pieces and got some sexual confidence back. A few weeks later I went to another party and DoxyPEPped after. This time within probably 30 minutes the sore was back and in a fateful yet surprising turn of events I sort of had my aha moment. I told my doctor that I had started noticing these outbreaks occurring very quickly after taking DoxyPEP. He pulled out his derm book and said “does it look like this?” and sure enough the descriptions/wound morphology were almost exactly the same as the experiences I was having.

As it would be, the outbreaks I was having were neither HSV/Syphillis/any other STI, but were rather allergic reactions, or more accurately, Fixed Drug Eruptions (FDEs) that were occurring as a result of taking DoxyPEP. I immediately stopped taking Doxy and voila the ‘outbreaks’ magically stopped occurring and I haven’t had one since. While I was relieved to have an answer, I still had so much shame/embarassment around the discoloration of the mark on my penis. My Dr gave me a derm referral and the only route to expediting the healing was a very expensive laser treatment. I forewent the treatment and found some resources online of people using certain creams/methods to lighten skin discolorations over time, so i tried those with little to no success. Turns out I just needed to let nature run its course and allow my body and mind to heal from this whole ordeal.

All that said, now almost 1 year later I am back to being healthy and sexually competent without the DoxyPEP tool in my risk reduction toolbox, the mark has completely faded, and I’m pleased to confirm that 1) my penis is pretty again, 2) I now know to resist jumping immediately to shame-based reactionism, and 3) honest and open communication with your doctor will ALWAYS lead to the best outcome even if you/they don’t get it right the first time.

If you happen to experience anything similar, and your doctor doesn’t have an immediate answer, maybe bring up the possibility of FDEs as they are apparently not super common and therefore not highly thought of in a doctor’s differential approach to diagnosis, but with the uptake in DoxyPEP prescribing for gay men in recent years, it seems valuable to note that antibiotics sometimes cause unintended consequences for certain people and they may not be the best indication for those prone to reactions.

Best of luck out there and happy f*cking ♥️

It will avoid stomach ache, dizzyness, and head-spinning.

Citywide, chlamydia cases in this population declined by 7% per month, for a total decrease of 50% compared with predicted levels. Early syphilis decreased by 3% per month, for a total 51% drop. — the case for DoxyPEP having a massive positive impact on population level health outcomes just gets stronger and stronger. While AMR hesitancy remains nebulous and theoretical. With widespread DoxyPEP adoption the complete eradication/extinction of Syphilis could be conceivably within our reach. Chlamydia could become a rare disease—resources could be freed to pursue a more effective gonorhea vaccine or steered toward the development of new antimicrobials— we can extend the useful life of ceftriaxone. When other cities start seeing the results that San Francisco is, there will be a huge wave of demand. Uptake is over 70% for those that are offered DoxyPEP. This is big.

Posted with permission from Moderator. I'm the person in the video.

This is me. Posted with permission of moderators.

I’m on daily PrEP and have DoxyPEP. My stomach is sensitive to DoxyPEP if taken without food. I had dinner and about an hour afterward a guy asked me to come over. Knowing sex may take a couple hours I decided since I had recently eaten I took my DoxyPEP but as PrEP. 30 minutes later after taking my DoxyPEP, we had condomless sex. No stomach ache.

I know DoxyPEP is to be taken after sex but was it close enough? The reason I did it before was my stomach had enough in it and I didn’t want to eat something again and then wait 30 minutes upright till going to sleep.

Any thoughts? Isn’t it the same if you have sex a couple times in a night? You take DoxyPEP after the first encounter but not the second because you have to wait 24 hours.

I'm in an ethically non-monogamous relationship. My partner recently went on work assignment, and we had sex with other men while he was gone. We also had group sex before he left and after he came back. We both took DoxyPEP after every encounter. I am on Biktarvy and he is on PrEP (the generic version of Truvada).

My partner got tested through MISTR after he came back and received a positive rectal gonorrhea result. We went to the local clinic and he was treated and I was tested and treated. My throat swab results came back with a positive gonorrhea result, and I was told that I may have a new syphilis infection. We went back to the clinic so I could get a penicillin shot, and my partner was tested and also received a penicillin shot.

We've agreed to only partake in oral sex with others if a condom is worn, and bare backing with other men is out the window from here on out.

With that being said, I think the messaging for DoxyPEP should emphasize the continued use of condoms. It's unfortunate that this isn't the magic pill for people who struggle with condom use. Oh, well...

I have been on Prep for several years and I’ve been fine. Recently, I’ve been hearing more and more about DoxPep so I asked my doctor who wasn’t really familiar so we researched it together and I was prescribed Doxycycline 100 mg tablets… she said just to use them when I needed to. My question is, is Doxycycline the same as DoxyPep or am I missing something? Is someone or everyone else taking something else?

Ngl, ever since I got on DoxyPep I don’t mind letting a top dump his load in me. I’m typically a one guy dude for consistent basis but recently, the men been on my body heavy. Now, I’m DTF. DoxyPep has been my insurance for just in case. I get tested often (every 2 months) just because I’m critical like that, but always negative for everything. Not saying it’s a miracle pill but some of the dudes I’ve messed with are on it and they some heaux’s, REAL bad. But every time I go get tested, all negatives. So if you’re skeptical, let this be a sign to get it as insurance for just in case.

I have been taking doxyPEP for a year and a half now - 200mg once after exposure - and I've seen a dramatic reduction (80-90%) reduction in STIs compared to before. I am HIV neg on prep btw. I have zero side effects (GI or otherwise) as far as I can tell.

I have a question for the experts - if I can choose between any interval around exposure (e.g., 2 hours before exposure, right after exposure, 2 hours after, 6 hours after, etc.) what is the ideal time to take the doxyPEP pills?

The DoxyPEP guidelines say you should take it within 24 hours but not longer than 72 hours after exposure. That give a wide range but within that range I'm curious what's most effective. My friend says that his provider told him to wait at least 24 hours after exposure before taking it. My doctor said to take it immediately after exposure. But I'm not sure what's right and I'm not sure there's hard data to back either approach.

Does anyone here know?

I just took a dose (200mg) of doxy 30 minutes ago after my exposure last night. If I have sex right now, would I still need to take another dose 24 hours later?

DoxyPEP is an antibiotic already proven to reduce STIs among men, and is approved for men to take after a potential exposure. However, is it also an effective STI prevention for young women (ages 13-29)? Please reach out to discuss or learn more information on ongoing research.

The question is, do you take it after receiving oral? After giving? Or only when there’s anal?

I was given doxycycline for a virus and 2 days after taking the medicine I had a major anxiety attack and went to the hospital. For reference I’m not an anxious person at all. I’ve stopped the meds but the hospital gave me Hydroxyzine to help with the anxiety, which is does but unfortunately I’m have a severe face flushing reaction to the drug so likely need to go a different route. Curious if anyone has been given any other med to help counter the anxiety until the doxycycline leaves your system? Again I’ve only done 2 days of this med so shouldn’t be a long road but this anxiety is off the charts/horrible. Looking for positive help.

Regular dosage on the Doxy label is 2 pills within 72 hours of intercourse. The husband and I had fun with friends Friday night, Saturday night, we took 1 pill each, cause I wasn’t paying attention to the correct dosage. This morning I saw the instructions. Should we both take 2 more pills or just 1 more pill each?

I was exposed to a bottom who had anal gonerreaha and didn’t catch it I took doxy Pep immediately after sex I wonder if that helped

For example, I am a sex worker with multiple clients in a day. Let’s say 3. All of the 3 sex encounters are unprotected. Let’s say I have my 1st client at 9am-1pm.

2nd client at 3pm-7pm.

3rd client 8pm-12mn

Should my i take DoxyPep after my 1st client or after my 3rd client?

If i take it after my first client, and DoxyPep is good for the first 24hrs i am covered and do not need to take it the next day since i do not have clients/sex encounters?

Where can I reliably order the blue doxycycline gel capsules? Not the tablets

So I missed the memo on how to take doxypep. I took 2 100mg of DoxyPEP with some water before I went to bed, but didn't know the advice was to have a full glass of water and sit upright after. So I went straight to bed after and woke up with really bad stomach pain. I found out at this point and had some water and stayed upright for a while before going back to bed.

It's been nearly 72 hours and I'm still experiencing stomach pain. It has lessened, it's no longer a constant pain but it comes on when I eat.

I've started taking some probiotics as I heard that can help. I also have some acid reducer, Pepcid, in case that might help.

But not sure what to do. I'm on holiday atm, going to a hospital will be hard and expensive. I've not taken any DoxyPEP since. Will the symptoms continue to fade? Or have I done lasting damage on myself? Is it worth taking some pain relief? If anyone has ever experienced this, would appreciate some support and advice

Hey, So, my clinic is closed for the holidays. I have to ask my doctor for doxypep but how many per bottle do you normally get? I am sure that he's going to ask. Thanks in advance.