I thought this might be an interesting question for you folks.

My wife and I are hunting Namibia and Zambia in that order in 2010. We normally wouldn't need the Malarone for Namibia because we are hunting the Khomas Hochland but 6 days before that hunt begins we will be in Etosha for three days touring. After the Namibia hunt we are flying to Lusaka and on to the Luangwa Valley were we obviously need the malarone.

Since the normal directions are to start 1-2 days before exposure and continue for 7 days after should we just plan on taking it the whole time we are in Africa?

Clint said it best, "How lucky do you feel?"

Start it the day you leave Alaska, end it seven days after your return. No messing up on dates.

quote:

Originally posted by nkonka:
Start it the day you leave Alaska, end it seven days after your return. No messing up on dates.

Good advice. It would be 50/50 whether I remembered to start the right day if it wasn't the day of or the day prior to departure.

I've never had any side effects with Malarone either, btw.

JPK

Jim,

If your in Africa anywhere you need to be on the prophylaxis. Why take even a 1 in 1000 chance.

Mark

Yes.

How about following the instructions of your tropical diseases physician and the instructions from the manufacturer? I generally do not take any medication until necessary.

There may be a specialist in the house, perhaps the SCI Hunt Doctors.

I have used Malarone with no side effects and would gladly use it again.

Frostbit

Get yourself a daily pill box and load each day before you leave in accordance with the recommended schedule. You can find 7 day and monthly boxes; get enough to cover the before, during and after safari needs. pack it in your carry-on.

You really don't want Malaria.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Jim,

If your in Africa anywhere you need to be on the prophylaxis. Why take even a 1 in 1000 chance.

Mark

Exactly.

I would start taking it 4 days early, take it the WHOLE TIME and take it 2 weeks after I got home.

You do not want Malaria.

Hi Jim,

As others have suggested I agree you should take it the whole time. I work for GlaxoSmithKline who researched and produces Malarone and in all my talking and discussions with our internal medical staff, it is by far the best medication out there for both malaria prophylaxis and treatment. There are very few side effects and if I recall when I last spoke with the medical officer in charge of the clinical evaluation of Malarone ( about two years ago) there have been something like 3 million does prescribed with very low incidence of problems. The only problems have been that it will reduce the effectiveness of some antibiotics but it can be offset by increasing the dosage of the antibiotic.
We've taken it on every trip to Africa regardless of being in a malaria endemic area or not with my thinking that by being an "immune naive" North American (maybe even worse for Alaskans!) we'd be ripe picking for the anopheles mosquito. Make sure to take it at the same time every day, after breakfast is good before you leave for the hunt.
Good luck

quote:

it is by far the best medication out the for both malaria prophylaxis and [COLOR:RED][/COLOR] treatment.

I am no expert, but I believe it is second rate for treatment. Fansidar(sp) is the top choice of the (white)people who live in Africa IME.

Arinate (brand name) Artussinate is (I believe) now the preferred treatment.

It's good stuff!

Oh, and yes, take it the full time. Per the directions, you would take it the full time, even if you leave a malaria area for a few days.

I also agree with a few others who said to start it a couple days earlier than recommended. Won't hurt to build up a little in your system before you arrive.

There is also some Chinease medicine in Zim that is supposed to be good if you come down, or have a relasp of Malaria.

I cannot remember the name of it, but I think it starts with a "C".

The other thing to think about is you never know where you might end up. You never know when a call will come in on a problem animal or some other special opportunity. Last if you are travelling in and out of airports in countries with malaria it makes sense to be protected from unwanted hitchhikers.

The directions for taking it that he mentioned are the correct directions for taking Malarone. One to two days before and 7 days after.

Also you might get "stuck" in Africa for a few extra days.

Does not hurt to plan ahead.

I keep a couple packets of ARINATE and COARTEM in my kit, for a cure in case my preventions don't work.

I prefer doxycycline....it's cheap and easy. I just pack sun screen, bug spray and treat my clothes with permethrin. Do this and I think effectiveness is almost up there with the high tech expensive stuff. Also, if you get some other bug over there, doxy can be used for that as well.

Finally, get some Conaz (Norfloxacin and Tinidazole combo) for food poisoning. That stuff kills a lot of African bugs that just laugh at EVERYTHING else.

The photosensativity asscoiated with doxycycline is no joke. If you chose to use this you absolutely must use an SPF 30 or better sunscreen.

Ticks can be prolematid as well...

Jeff

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
The photosensativity asscoiated with doxycycline is no joke. If you chose to use this you absolutely must use an SPF 30 or better sunscreen.

Ticks can be prolematid as well...

Jeff

True it is no joke,when it occurs, it is however, not that prevalent, and besides, we should be wearing sunscreen and sunglasses anyway, right?

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana Bunduki:
The photosensativity asscoiated with doxycycline is no joke.
Jeff

I agree. I hunted Zim in October once. It was hot, but even with sunscreen, I had to ride with a jacket over my legs. Sunscreen didn't help the pain from the sun. My legs weren't burned, they were just overly sensitive to the sun.

For the folks unfamiliar with with all the malaria discussions let's be clear that Malarone, Larium etc are prophylaxis (preventative) type drugs for malaria. Arinate and Coartem are drug treatment for malaria as in you are having a malaria attack.

Mark

Mark is correct, but it is also worth noting that Malarone and Larium can be used as treatment.

I do not know the proper dosing though. I know I was given 6 Larium to take at once and I do not tolerate Larium very well. I get "edgy" to say the least.

Here is an interesting fact

6 Larium + 1 Wendell = 1 Big a$$hole.

Interesting ... some might argue that the Larium was not necessary to complete this equation, but they are just jerks anyway.

quote:

6 Larium + 1 Wendell = 1 Big a$$hole.

I can't even begin to ponder the magnatude of that.

I take nothing! I've had too may side effects from Malerone to warrant the constant misery....I'll take the Malaria hit, deal with it ad move on....That medicine just about killed me (twice).

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
I take nothing! I've had too may side effects from Malerone to warrant the constant misery....I'll take the Malaria hit, deal with it ad move on....That medicine just about killed me (twice).

Have you tried Doxie?
Mind you, if you stick with Chewore in the dry, you should be OK.

I've done Malarone twice and have had no side effects at all with it.. Did Larium on one trip, NEVER AGAIN!! I had some CRAZY dreams!Done doxy a couple of times and get a hellua sunburn while on it each time.. I wont use it again.. although I will continue to take it with me, to have as a preventative in the event of tick bites, etc..

malarone works for me while in mozzie areas.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
I take nothing! I've had too may side effects from Malerone to warrant the constant misery....I'll take the Malaria hit, deal with it ad move on....That medicine just about killed me (twice).

I have also had issues with Malarone. I've had blood pressure and psychosomatic issues with Malarone. I think in the future I'll either go without or try Doxycycline.

quote:

I have also had issues with Malarone. I've had blood pressure and psychosomatic issues with Malarone. I think in the future I'll either go without or try Doxycycline.

I have taken Doxy and Malarone and had good luck with both. If I could not take Malarone I would be happy with Doxy. I would make sure to take asidpololis(sp) along with it to stave off thrush.

I had no sun problems with Doxy.

Jeff, I'm with you, quit taking malaria stuff on three of my last four trips. No problem...so far.

quote:

Originally posted by Wendell Reich:
Mark is correct, but it is also worth noting that Malarone and Larium can be used as treatment.

I do not know the proper dosing though. I know I was given 6 Larium to take at once and I do not tolerate Larium very well. I get "edgy" to say the least.

Here is an interesting fact

6 Larium + 1 Wendell = 1 Big a$$hole.

Interesting ... some might argue that the Larium was not necessary to complete this equation, but they are just jerks anyway.

Wendell,
Now, now. Be a good boy and get back on your Zanax too.... We want to see the "good" Wendell, not the angry eyes Wendell....

Here is a thought.

IF you think you might go to Africa in the future, get your doctor to perscribe a months supply of Larium, and take it to see IF it causes you any problems.

That is what I did I started it about 3 weeks before my first trip, to see if it caused me any problems.

It did not so I have used it every time. My wife used it on her trip, again starting early with no problems.

Last time I checked Malaria was still listed as one of the biggest killers on the planet.

We hear the ph talk about how many times he has had malaria and we tend to think it is not all that serious. They get it and it is like the flu to them. They get it and get over it and go on.

They also have generations of adaptation to the parasite. Malaria still kills thousands of native Africans each year.

As Americans most of us do not have the generations of adaptation to the parasite. When we get it it is serious, and often life threatening.

All you guys who say you have not taken profalaxys and say you are fine, you are just lucky.

Frostbit: You're getting a healthy dosage of medical advice. I'm not a doctor nor do I work for any drug companies, meaning no disrespect to you Paul. But I believe the truth is, that any of these medications can have side effects. Each person's DNA, body and tolerance to some medications is different. Malarone definitely has side effects. Jeff is (thankfully) "living" proof of that. Jason I'm not sure that's a correct statement to say Fansidar is the top choice of White Africans. I've hunted with lotsa White Africans who despise Fansidar, and Larium. The CDC has stated it's issues about it as well.

I'm guessing Frostbit you've had no problems with Malarone before. Right? My preference is Doxycycline. I was warned of the photosensitivity issues of it too, but perhaps because my darker complexion, I've never had any issues with it.

Because of the likelihood of ticks in both areas I'd recommend Doxy for you as an overall antibiotic, that not only fights bacteria, but tick bites and malaria. But perhaps that drug doesn't bode well with your system, nor the wife's.

You can always try it out prior to departure. That's what I did with some of the above mentioned malaria preventatives. Doxycycline was the only one that sat well with my eating habits, equilibrium and metabolism.

I had a problem with the jitters with some of the others mentioned. And that's the last thing I needed with 2.5 pounds of trigger pressure on my Jarrett rifle!

I've found that even some of the doctor's I've visited were wrong when it comes to my body makeup, regarding malaria advice, and you're much better off polling people like us who've actually been to Africa. My first doctor touted Malarone but dissed Doxy, and then another one really pushed Doxy but was hatin' on Malarone. The relationships they have with various drug companies can sometimes shape their opinions.

Moja

Just wanted to say i appreciate all the advice and experiences offered on this thread.

Take the medicine as prescribed before, during, and after the hunt to prevent malaria. If you have any fevers post hunt ALWAYS tell your doc that you have been in an malaria endemic area.
The recommended preventive course for malaria depends on the area as different areas have different resistence patterns to the meds.
The physician will also take your underlying medical conditions ie liver/kidney functions and other meds into account when prescribing.
Malarone is prone to cause vivid dreams and some report mood changes/personality changes and depressive symptoms while on it. I counsel all my patients to watch for these symptoms.
Doxycycline script always goes with them as back up in case of intolerance with warnings about sun sensitivity.
Remember sunburn and crazy dreams/mood swings are much better than Malaria!
I have had one client have a bad safari due to medication... this was not discovered by the client or the PH until the client was off meds.

quote:

They also have generations of adaptation to the parasite. Malaria still kills thousands of native Africans each year.

As Americans most of us do not have the generations of adaptation to the parasite. When we get it it is serious, and often life threatening.

Wendell
The first time you get Malaria is usually the worst because your body does not start to fight the parasite until you are really in trouble.

If you catch it again within a couple of years your immune system will begin to fight it much sooner. If it has been several years since your last case you will loose your body's ability to identify and fight early, and you are in big trouble, African or not.

I want to go to Namibia or South Africa next year. Will I need this malarone.

doclee,

Thanks sfor your input. Below, you say Malarone, but the symptoms sound just like Larium? Did you mean Larium?

quote:

Originally posted by doclee:
Malarone is prone to cause vivid dreams and some report mood changes/personality changes and depressive symptoms while on it.

quote:

Originally posted by doclee:
I have had one client have a bad safari due to medication... this was not discovered by the client or the PH until the client was off meds.

I have heard some real horror stories about guys locking themselves in the cruiser, guys who are normally "normal" turning paranoid ... I think Larium is a horrible drug.

Do you guys know just how prevalent Malaria is in Africa?

In 2007 the CDC reports more than one million African people, mostly young children in sub-Saharan Africa, died from this disease.

That's an average of 2740 deaths per day, or 2 deaths per minute. Two deaths per minute. That means people in Africa are dropping like flies to Malaria. But these are preventable deaths, if the right medicine was afforded these people.

When you depart your hunting camps and feel so inclined to leave a tip, give the PH any extra Malaria medicine you might have. It is not a stretch to say, "You might be able to save someone's life." Life is the greatest gift you can give to a tracker, camp staffer or a villager.

Moja