Malaria Meds?

23 March 2013, 02:30

Duckear

Malaria: Prophylaxis with Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil), or doxycycline is recommended for northeastern KwaZulu-Natal Province as far south as the Tugela River, Limpopo (Northern) Province, and Mpumalanga Province. There is malaria risk in Kruger National Park.

23 March 2013, 16:33

cal pappas

Gents:
I know some areas are "malaria free" but the border on malaria not so free zones. Why take a chance as anti malaria meds are cheap and safe?
Cal

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23 March 2013, 23:31

MARK H. YOUNG

Guy,

Listen to Cal. Why take even the most minute chance. Go to the CDC website and take everything they recommend and a malaria prophylaxis.

Mark

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24 March 2013, 05:32

cal pappas

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
Gents:
I know some areas are "malaria free" but they border on malaria not so free zones. Why take a chance as anti malaria meds are cheap and safe?
Cal

24 March 2013, 07:51

jjbull

I am convinced on the need for the prophylaxis; but still very ignorant & confused as to which one.

What do you guys/gals use and why?

I will be in Botswana, just South of Ghanzi after a couple days in J-burg if that matters.

Please excuse the highjack.

24 March 2013, 09:25

Saeed

We have been using Larium for many years, and have had no problems at all.

Last year we used Malarone.

Again, we had no problems either.

Some people have been reporting negative effects from Larium, that is why we changed.

24 March 2013, 10:19

N E 450 No2

I have always used Larium, never had a problem.

I would not go anywhere in Africa and not take some sort of malaria protection

24 March 2013, 20:43

Labman

I used Larium once with no problems. I then tried Malarone but had problems sleeping even though I took the drug first thing in the AM. At first I thought it was the effects of jet lag, but three days into the trip I still couldn't get to sleep without a sleeping pill. Stopped the Malarone and everything was fine.

Everyone reacts differently to drugs so it's probably just me, but I think I'll use Doxy on my next trip. Being an anti-biotic it may help protect against other nasty things while in Africa. You just have to be careful about sun exposure while on Doxy.

25 March 2013, 03:56

lavaca

I've always used Malarone, but on the last trip, it upset my stomach -- probably in combination with another medication I had started since I last took Malarone.

Was thinking about trying Lariam for my trip this year but had heard Roche stopped selling it in the US due to liability issues. I checked, due to this thread, and perhaps mefloquine (Lariam) is available in a generic in the US. I'll look into it.

25 March 2013, 04:34

Use Enough Gun

Malarone.

25 March 2013, 08:25

Rockdoc

I would NEVER reccomend Larium after my experience. There is a reason the US military has essentially dropped it.

Malarone I found good but expensive.

Doxy I found good but became a little toxic after a couple of years continuous use. Doxy is easy to get in Tanzania. Taken at nightime with food was best for my stomach.

Don't forget to use repellant during daytime anywhere you can catch dengue.

Good luck, Chris

25 March 2013, 20:23

cal pappas

I have heard Larium is not so good for some. What are the effects? I used it 13 times with no problems at all. Just curious as I know some swear by it and others swear at it.
Cal

27 March 2013, 09:28

Sid Post

quote:
Originally posted by cal pappas:
I have heard Larium is not so good for some. What are the effects? I used it 13 times with no problems at all. Just curious as I know some swear by it and others swear at it.
Cal

Larium has seriously negative mental effects on some. I lived next door to an Air Force doctor and some of the military personnel she saw basically became unstable mental patients on it. When they returned stateside for hospitalization, they were taken off Larium and returned to a normal mental state and avoided forced mental hospitalization. One doctor she knew very well became a total nut case but, was not taken off Larium since he was "in theater". Once stateside and on his way to a dishonorable discharge for mental illness related reasons, he made a miraculous recovery and returned to the operating room.

Was it Larium or, Larium in combination with something else? Who knows.

Best Regards,
Sid

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27 March 2013, 11:11

Rockdoc

My Larium was not taken in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Where I was it was very hard to source the latter anyway.

My reactions were intense-vivid "nightmares", even if I just nodded off to sleep in the chopper during daytime. Also some very dark thoughts, so much that I stopped the course whilst still exposed to possible malarial infectrion, the latter was preferable.

With doxy about 2yrs continuous use i developed myalga-neuralgia in my legs which went away once I stopped use. It is one of the less likely side-effects. I never had skin burn and avoided stomach issues by taking with food.

Cheers, Chris

27 March 2013, 11:12

Rockdoc

quote:
Originally posted by Rockdoc:
My Larium was not taken in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol. Where I was it was very hard to source the latter anyway.

My reactions were intense-vivid "nightmares", even if I just nodded off to sleep in the chopper during daytime. Also some very dark thoughts, so much that I stopped the course whilst still exposed to possible malarial infection, the latter was preferable.

With doxy about 2yrs continuous use i developed myalga-neuralgia in my legs which went away once I stopped use. It is one of the less likely side-effects. I never had skin burn and avoided stomach issues by taking with food.

Cheers, Chris

27 March 2013, 12:03

N E 450 No2

Larium actually mellows my normal dreams out, a little.

I have taken it as long as 75 days, once a week of course.

29 March 2013, 20:37

Mauser K98

My wife and I will be going to Namibia in May. Our Doctor son-in-law has given us a prescription for Doxycycline (It's on the CDC list). He says with this drug in your system you don't have to worry about Malaria.
We will take the first dose on arriving in Africa, then one a day for 7 days. We both have taken this drug in the past for colds and such with no ill effects.

MauserK98

29 March 2013, 23:06

MARK H. YOUNG

Mauser98,

Just be very careful with the sun exposure. Doxy makes you very sensitive to sun burn. Also Doxy may give you terrible stomach upset and screaming diarrhea exacerbated by diet change. Sounds like fun!

We used to use Larium but I think it made me anxious. Switched to Malarone and have not been aware of any side effects since starting its use.

Mark

30 March 2013, 20:15

Larry Sellers

K98 - I agree with Mark on this one too. Sun sensitive reactions can be dangerous, stomach upset/diarrhea equals potential dehydration, and most of all, my Docs are telling me a lot of malaria strains out there now are resistant to Doxy. I have used Malarone over a dozen times now without side effects and best of all NO Malaria. Way to many negatives on Doxy to go with it in my opinion. Also as posted on a several other threads here Doxy is very hard to get right now and over the top in price.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member