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How to get PrEP in Canada
Most Freddie patients get their PrEP prescribed online & delivered discreetly for $0.
PrEP requires a prescription in Canada from an approved medical professional.
Lab testing is required to ensure PrEP is right for you (most people have no side effects).
Freddie is Canada’s largest PrEP clinic. 90% of Freddie patients get PrEP for $0.
There are two types of PrEP available for prescription: Truvada & Descovy.
Descovy, the newest form of PrEP with fewer side effects, is $0 for most Freddie patients with private insurance.
PrEP is a daily pill that is 99% effective at preventing the transmission of HIV.
PrEP is approved in Canada and requires a prescription. The two forms of PrEP are Truvada & Descovy.
Only 1-10% of patients on PrEP experience side effects. Most symptoms tend to go away within 1-2 weeks naturally.
PrEP only protects against HIV, not other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, or hepatitis.
The vast majority of Freddie patients get PrEP prescribed online & discreetly delivered for $0.
1
Book an appointment
2
Perform some lab testing
3
Get your PrEP
1
Talking to someone about PrEP has never been easier. Simply book an appointment and schedule a time for us to call you. By booking an appointment with Freddie, you get access to the following benefits:
Free virtual appointments
(no more waiting rooms)
Hospital waiting rooms are a thing of the past. With Freddie, you can book and attend your appointment virtually from the comfort of your home. Our consultations are 100% free.
LGBTQ2S+ trained clinicians
(no more stigma)
We understand LGBTQ2S+ healthcare needs. Freddie has worked with thousands of patients, and we’ve heard it all. Come as you are.
User-friendly design
(no more confusion)
Tired of websites that look like they haven’t been updated since 2000? Our patient dashboard makes it easy to keep up to date with your next steps, stay in contact, and access additional resources.
2
You will need to get tested before starting PrEP, after one month of taking PrEP, and every three months after that. This is so we can:
Make sure you’re not HIV+ since PrEP is for prevention only
Taking PrEP while being HIV+ can cause the virus to build immunity against medication designed to treat HIV.
Make sure you haven’t contracted other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
PrEP protects against HIV but not other STIs like Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Herpes. This testing ensures that any STIs you encounter are detected and treated as soon as possible.
Make sure your body can healthily tolerate the medication
Most people have no issues while taking PrEP. There is now a new version of PrEP known as Descovy, which is safe for most people with pre-existing conditions.
3
Once we receive the results of your lab tests and confirm everything looks good to go, you’ll have three options to choose from for getting your PrEP:
Free
delivery
Skip the commute and have your PrEP delivered straight to your door. The packaging is brandless and doesn’t indicate what’s inside, ensuring complete discretion.
Pick-up
(local pharmacy)
Prefer to pick up the medication yourself? We partner with local pharmacies if you’d like to see a pharmacist in person when getting your PrEP.
Pick-up
(Canada Post)
You also have the option to get your PrEP prescription delivered to the post office for pick-up through Canada Post. This is a great option if you’d prefer to pick the medication up at your discretion.
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Take our 1-minute PrEP questionnaire to learn how much PrEP will cost you ($0 for most) and book a free appointment to get PrEP now!
Truvada and Descovy are the two types of PrEP medication and are 99% effective at preventing HIV. With Freddie, patients have access to both types of PrEP, regardless of whether they have pre-existing conditions.
Truvada
Descovy
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There are two types of Truvada available in Canada: Name-brand and generic. They both have the same active ingredients and are 99% effective at preventing HIV. The only significant difference between the two types of Truvada is the manufacturer.Due to there being equal levels of protection, provincial insurance only covers the cheaper option: generic Truvada.
The vast majority of Freddie patients get PrEP for $0.
Descovy was developed to lessen the (few) potential side effects associated with Truvada, particularly with kidney and bone health.If you have private insurance, Freddie can help you get Descovy for free! Most private insurance plans cover Descovy, and Freddie will help you get your co-pay waived by enrolling you in a financial assistance program.
With Freddie, 85% of patients with private insurance get Descovy for $0.
If you are considering PrEP, it’s recommended you chat with your PrEP provider to determine which method best fits your needs.
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The Freddie team has provided over 22,000 free PrEP consultations. With our expertise in finding PrEP for the lowest cost possible, we’ve saved patients $1,000,000+ in prescription costs.
PrEP through Freddie is currently available in the following provinces:
*Due to provincial regulations, Freddie is only available for BC and Quebec patients with private insurance at this time. For those that Freddie can’t serve yet, you can still visit your family doctor or local sexual health clinic to access PrEP.
GET PrEP NOW*Due to provincial regulations, Freddie is only available for BC and Quebec patients with private insurance at this time. For those that Freddie can’t serve yet, you can still visit your family doctor or local sexual health clinic to access PrEP.
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Reviewed by:
Dr. Caley Shukalek
Caley is passionate about evidence-based patient-centred care, including telemedicine that can provide high quality care from wherever a patient may choose.
He helped create Alberta’s PrEP guidelines and works as a specialist in General Internal Medicine with additional training in sexual health, including HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
He holds a Masters of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, an MD from the University of Calgary and an MSc from the University of Alberta.
