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PEP in San Antonio: Emergency HIV Prevention Within 72 Hours

Updated · Sources are cited in the text

PEP in San Antonio: Emergency HIV Prevention Within 72 Hours

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV in the last three days, time matters, and there is a clear path to follow. PEP, short for post-exposure prophylaxis, is emergency HIV medication that a clinician can prescribe after a possible exposure. This guide walks through what to do, where to go in San Antonio, and what comes after.

You do not need to work out what happened first. You only need to start the process quickly. A clinician will take it from there.

What PEP is, in plain words

PEP is a course of HIV medication taken after a possible exposure to lower the chance that HIV takes hold. The CDC says PEP should be started as soon as possible, and no later than 72 hours after a possible exposure. Many people call it emergency HIV medication because of that tight window.

PEP is not the same as PrEP. PrEP is medication taken before possible exposures, as ongoing prevention. PEP is for after. It is also not the same as doxy-PEP, which the CDC's 2024 guidance describes as an antibiotic strategy for certain bacterial STIs. Doxy-PEP does not prevent HIV.

Only a clinician can decide whether PEP fits your situation and which medicines to prescribe. This article does not cover doses or regimens, because those are set for you by the person who examines you.

Why San Antonio readers ask about this

HIV affects people of every gender, orientation and background. The CDC's HIV Surveillance Data Release Tables for 2024 report 373 new HIV diagnoses in Bexar County, a rate of 21.1 per 100,000 people aged 13 and older. The same CDC tables give Texas a rate of 19.4 per 100,000 for that age group. Those numbers describe a community, not any one person. They are a reminder that HIV prevention tools belong in the local health toolkit.

What you need before you go

You do not need to gather everything before you leave. If anything on this list is a barrier, go anyway and say so. These items simply help the visit go faster.

  • The time of the possible exposure. Your best estimate is fine. The 72-hour count starts from that moment.
  • A short, honest account of what happened. Clinicians ask in order to choose the right care. They are not there to judge.
  • A photo ID. Some clinics require one. The Metro Health STI Walk-In Clinic says a current photo ID is required and that it does not test anonymously.
  • Your medication list and any allergies. PEP medicines can interact with other drugs.
  • Insurance information, if you have it. If you do not, ask about options before you leave. Do not let cost stop you from making the call.
  • A phone and a way to get there. If the exposure involved assault, say that when you arrive. Emergency staff can connect you with additional support.

Step-by-step: how to get PEP in San Antonio

Step 1: Note the time and act now

Write down when the possible exposure happened. The CDC says PEP works best when started as soon as possible and must start within 72 hours. Earlier is better, so do not wait for a convenient moment or for the next morning if it is night.

Step 2: Choose where to go based on the hour

Your choice depends on what is open right now.

At night, on weekends, or whenever clinics are closed: go to a hospital emergency department. Emergency departments are open around the clock. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) pages used for this guide do not list which hospital emergency rooms stock PEP, so call ahead if you can, or simply go and tell the triage staff you need PEP after a possible HIV exposure. Mention it early so you are seen promptly.

During clinic hours: these San Antonio programs list PEP or related HIV prevention services. Confirm by phone that PEP is available that day, since walk-in hours and supplies can change.

  • Alamo Area Resource Center (AARC), 303 N. Frio, San Antonio, TX 78207, (210) 625-7200. AARC's site lists PEP and PrEP among its services. Its testing page lists walk-ins Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday until 8 p.m. See the AARC testing page.
  • Kind Clinic, San Antonio (Isom), 730 Isom Road, San Antonio, TX 78216, 833-937-5463. The number is Kind Clinic's general support line, because the clinic does not list a location-specific number. Kind Clinic lists PEP among its services, along with HIV and STI testing. Its locations page lists clinic hours of Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and notes that walk-in testing hours differ. Ask before you go. See Kind Clinic locations.

Metro Health also runs the STI Walk-In Clinic at 512 E. Highland, Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78210, phone 210-207-8830. Its page lists Monday to Thursday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (latest check-in 3 p.m.) and Friday 7:45 a.m. to noon (latest check-in 10:30 a.m.), and says check-in may close early at capacity. Metro Health lists a $15 office visit administrative fee, with other fees varying by service. The clinic's page does not say whether it dispenses PEP, so call to ask before you rely on it for an urgent need. The Metro Health PrEP Clinic at the same address, 210-207-7292, can talk with you about ongoing prevention afterward. See the Metro Health STI and HIV page.

Step 3: Call ahead if you can, but do not let a call slow you down

A short call can save a trip. Ask three things: Do you have PEP available today? Do I need an appointment? What should I bring? If no one picks up or the line is closed, go to an emergency department. Do not wait for a call back if the 72 hours are running.

Step 4: Tell the clinician what happened

Say what kind of contact it was, when it happened, and whether you know anything about the other person's HIV status or treatment. You can share as much or as little as you are comfortable with, but more detail helps the clinician judge the situation. No answer you give needs to be framed in any special way. The clinician is there to help, not to judge.

Step 5: Expect baseline tests

Before or alongside starting PEP, the CDC says clinicians test for HIV and typically check other things as well, such as kidney function and other infections. The HIV test result helps the clinician decide how to proceed. A clinician may also offer testing for other STIs while you are there. A positive or negative result belongs in a conversation with that clinician, not in guesswork.

Step 6: Start the medicine as prescribed

If a clinician prescribes PEP, ask whether you can start before you leave the building, since time matters. Some clinics give a first supply on site. If you are sent to a pharmacy, go straight there. Ask the clinician exactly how and when to take the medicine, and write it down.

Step 7: Finish the full course

The CDC says a PEP course lasts 28 days. Take it exactly as prescribed for the full course. Stopping early or skipping doses can reduce how well PEP works. If side effects bother you, call the clinician before you stop. Many side effects can be managed, and the clinician may be able to adjust the plan.

Step 8: Keep your follow-up visits

PEP is not finished when the pills are. The CDC's PEP guidance calls for follow-up HIV testing after the exposure, with repeat tests over the following weeks and months. Your clinician will give you the exact dates. Book them before you leave if you can.

Step 9: Talk about what comes next

If you may be exposed again in the future, ask about PrEP. Metro Health, AARC and Kind Clinic all list PrEP services, and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation lists PrEP and doxy-PEP. Doxy-PEP at Kind Clinic is listed for its own patients only. A short, nonjudgmental conversation about prevention is routine care.

What to expect afterward

The CDC says PEP can greatly lower the chance of HIV infection when started promptly and taken as prescribed. It does not work every time, and no test or medicine is perfect. Your clinician can tell you what your own follow-up results mean.

  • Some people feel tired, nauseated or have headaches while taking PEP. Tell your clinician if anything is hard to manage.
  • Your final HIV test result at the end of follow-up is what clinicians use to confirm the outcome.
  • If a test comes back positive, HIV is treatable. The CDC says people with HIV who take treatment as prescribed can live long, healthy lives. HIV is manageable, though not curable.

Tips that make it easier

  • Go sooner rather than later. If you are unsure whether the contact counts, a clinician can help you decide. That is their job.
  • Set a phone reminder for your medicine and your follow-up visits.
  • Ask about cost before you panic about it. AARC and Kind Clinic list free testing, but the pages used for this guide do not publish a PEP price for any San Antonio provider. Ask the clinic or the pharmacy directly, and tell them if cost is a concern.
  • Bring a support person if it would help. You do not have to do this alone.
  • If you are under 18, Texas Family Code Sec. 32.003 lets a minor of any age consent to diagnosis and treatment of a reportable infectious disease, which covers HIV. The same section says a physician may, but is not required to, tell a parent or guardian. Ask the clinician about privacy before you begin.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting to see how you feel. HIV often causes no early symptoms, and the 72-hour window does not pause.
  • Assuming a clinic is open. Hours change. Check, or go to an emergency department.
  • Stopping the medicine early because you feel fine or have side effects. Talk to your clinician first.
  • Skipping follow-up testing. The later tests are part of the care.
  • Using leftover medicine from someone else. Only a clinician can prescribe PEP for you.
  • Stopping all protection during PEP. Ask your clinician what to do between now and your final test, such as using condoms.
  • Letting shame decide. Clinicians see all kinds of situations. Nothing about asking for PEP is wrong.

After PEP: free and low-cost testing in San Antonio

Follow-up and a full STI check can happen at the same places that offer routine testing. The San Antonio AIDS Foundation lists free rapid HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing with no appointment needed. AARC lists free HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia testing. For a wider list of San Antonio options, including costs and hours, see our guide to STD testing in San Antonio.

You can also find sites by ZIP code at gettested.cdc.gov, the CDC's testing locator. Texas DSHS also offers free mailed at-home kits through Test for Texas for people 13 and older, but your PEP clinician should tell you which test and timing they want for follow-up.

Frequently asked questions

Is PEP only for emergencies?

Yes. The CDC describes PEP as an emergency measure for use after a possible exposure, not as a routine prevention method.

What if it has been more than 72 hours?

The CDC's guidance is built around the 72-hour window. If you are outside it, a clinician can still talk with you about testing and other prevention options.

Does PEP protect against other STIs?

No. PEP is for HIV. Bacterial STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are curable with treatment from a clinician, and testing is how you find out. Ask about testing while you are there.

Will my result be reported?

Texas DSHS lists HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis as notifiable conditions. That means a confirmed diagnosis is reported to health authorities. Ask the clinic how your information is handled.

Key takeaways

  • PEP must start within 72 hours of a possible exposure, according to the CDC.
  • After hours, an emergency department is the dependable option. During the day, call AARC or Kind Clinic.
  • The course lasts 28 days and works best when taken as prescribed.
  • Follow-up HIV testing is part of the plan.
  • Cost information for PEP is not published on the pages we reviewed, so ask before you go, and do not delay care over it.

Sources