Ray,

That try out business is a good idea. I've taken all three. Lariam gives me dreams an old Chinaman would pay good money for! I like to save the doxy for other ailments. This relatively new Malarone has been a blessing for me.

Rich Elliott

Rich, check out their website www.malarone.com Hopefully they can help you out.

Does anyone know if there is a maximum number of days that one should take Malarone without a break? I'll be in malaria
areas 35 days this winter. 15 days will be in Gambella along the Sudan border. Then a short break in the Addis Ababa office but not over a week. We have one Mt. Nyala Area where it is advisable and that's where I'll be for 2 weeks after that. Then I'm supposed to take it for a week after I return home. That's a total of 42 days.

Rich Elliott

Rich,

I have taken it as long as 7 weeks with no issues. Nothing was mentioned at the time of prescription about a time limit either. The clinic was more concerned my insurance would not cover the duration, which it did.

Hey Rich,

I know my PH takes it during the Malaria season, takes it the whole rainy season, that's what, 2 or 3 months.

I've taken it for over 5 weeks for trips to Brazil and my doctor had no issue with giving me a 90 day supply.

Thanks, Guys,

I found out that the Army takes either Lariam or Doxy for the duration of their Iraq tour and that the few who have problems with either have been issued Malarone with no side affects. The main side affect I've noticed is a considerable hole in one's billfold but, at that, it's cheaper than malaria.
Rich Elliott

I have taken it for about 30 to 35 days...Malorone bothers me much more than Lariam..It upsets my stomach, makes me itch and sunburn, and makes me very nervous, and I am not a sun sensitive or nervous person at all.....and I hate taking anything on a daily basis...

I have mostly taken Lariam, and never had any side effects and I only have to take it once of week....

90% of my hunters take Lariam without side effects, Year before last one of our clients, a woman went totally bonkers on Malarone, we took her off of it and put her on Lariam and she got OK....Doxy is OK I suppose but it does not protect you as well as the other two I have been told by some doctors, and it is also sun sensitive..Doxy has no ill effects on me at all....

That is why I tell all my clients to try the medications before they come to Africa..Find out which one of the three works best for the individual YOU....

When Malarone first came on the market it was advised not to use for periods longer than 28 days, these things change as the pharm companies get more feedback from the field.

Rich,

I referenced the PDR (Physicians Desk Reference Manual). The PDR refers to several seperate studies in Kenya, Zambia and South Africa where subjects used Malarone for either ten or twelve weeks. Seems to have relatively low side effects as well. It should be taken with either food or milk. Elimination half life is two to three days. Do not take concurrently with tetracycline based anti-biotics (due to reduced efficacy). Start at least two days before entering malaria zone and continue daily dosing for a week upon exit of zone. Malarone is made by Glaxo / Wellcome

I was told in 2002 that using Malarone for 4 months was no problem. Since we were going to be in Malaria regions for over twice that time, I used Doxy, and my wife Larium. But we brought Malarone with us as a cure (which I needed.)

I got the impression that Malarone could most likely be used for longer than 4 months, but that testing for long duration use (6 months and up) wasn't completed at the time.

I wouldn't hesitate to use it on your trip to Ethiopia.

Have fun and enjoy some Kay Wat with Injera for me!

Erik