I'm sure this has been posted on here before, but what do most of you recommend for malaria medication? Malarone or Doxycycline? Something else?

Larium is the drug that causes problems for many, correct?

Both Malarone and Doxy are good but you should really consult your local tropical medicine cenre or travel clinic for the most up to date info.

One advantage of Doxy is that as it's an antibiotic it also gives you some protection from the effects of tick bite fever etc..... the downside is that it can also cause thrush and that can be painful as hell. Acidophilus tablets and/or lots of live yoghurt will help protect you from the thrush.

Yes' Larium is th one that can cause a LOT of problems and I personally advise people to avoid that one if possible.

You might find this useful: http://www.shakariconnection.c...laria-in-africa.html

Also this: http://www.shakariconnection.c...lth-before-hunt.html

Doxi is often recommended here in Aus.
It also minimizes the chance of Tick bit fever.

The main thing with Doxy is to be aware of the possibility of thrush and make sure you take a twice daily dose of acidophilus and also have a tube of Canestan or similar in your first aid kit.

Thake it from a man who's suffered from it, that's it isn't just painful, it's FUCKING PAINFUL! and in fact could easily ruin your hunt and your sex life for months afterwards if you can't treat it immediatly.

The idea is funny but the reality definately ain't!

Another thing with Doxy is that it can make you extra sensitive to sunburn etc, and it helps if you take it night rather than in the morning.

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
make sure you take a twice daily dose of acidophilus





Another thing with Doxy is that it can make you extra sensitive to sunburn etc, and it helps if you take it night rather than in the morning.

Very true and glad not to have experienced thrush..

I gotta tell you, it was one of the most painful experiences of my life!

My Mrs thought it was hysterical though!

Bearing in mind she's got umpteen years experience in a cardio thoracic operating theatre (OR to the Americans). I expected a bit more sympathy than I actually got!

Malorone generally has minimal side effects and at least it was recommend by the CDC. Take a broad spectrum antibiotic with you in the case of coming down with something. The effect of Doxycycline can be very nasty and larium can make some physchotic.

Mark

Another vote for Malarone.

Be aware, however, that other parts of the world require other anti-malarial medications.

Many areas in Central and South America require chloroquine phosphate, for example. Trade name Aralen.

Different strains of mosquito have different immunities and susceptibilities.

4 safaris Malerone, Cipro, and doxycycline
( tic fever) These are the main meds...

Mike

I've used Larium most often and Doxycycline when the Larium would have conflicted with other meds.

The larium can and will usually cause vivid dreams, but that isn't necessarily a problem. It has caused psychotic reactions but that appears to be rare. Larium is a once per week dose whereas Doxy is a daily-daily. As mentioned, doxy is photo-sensitive - long sleeves and pants and a wide brimmed hat!

Consult the CDC site for the countries you'll be in and read their recommendations. Be sure to start prior to departure and continue following your return, as indicated. Use repellant and sleep under nets. You don't want Malaria.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Another vote for Malarone.

Plus 1. I have used Larium and Malarone and much prefer the Malarone. Some tolerate Larium quite well, and others have reported problems.

quote:

Originally posted by mrlexma:
Another vote for Malarone.

Be aware, however, that other parts of the world require other anti-malarial medications.

Many areas in Central and South America require chloroquine phosphate, for example. Trade name Aralen.

Different strains of mosquito have different immunities and susceptibilities.

Those areas don't require chloroquine. The malarial strains there are just sensitive to the much cheaper chloroquine.

Chloroquine-resistant areas require Malarone or Larium. I had a few complaints from patients about Larium. Pretty much only write Malarone and chloroquine if I can get by with it.

Both Larium and Malarone wacked me out.. had to quit taking them.. Tried them on different hunts to find this out the hard way.. Just figured I have to go without on my Zim hunt in August..

quote:

Originally posted by MopaneMike:
Both Larium and Malarone wacked me out.. had to quit taking them.. Tried them on different hunts to find this out the hard way.. Just figured I have to go without on my Zim hunt in August..

Went with out on my last Safari, but it certainly depended on time of year and Human populations in hunting area (dry October in Chewore which has minimal Malaria).
My up coming trip to Moz (bad area for Malaria) I might try Malarone as I have been given a large quantity and will be there for five weeks.

Thanks for the advice guys. My wife and daughter got scrips for Malarone, but I was thinking that was the one with hallucinogenic problems so I asked for something else and he prescribed Doxy. I think I"m going to call him and have him switch it over to Malarone, and get an additional scrip for some Doxy or other antibiotic.

I appreciate the advice.

quote:

Originally posted by Duckear:
Those areas don't require chloroquine. The malarial strains there are just sensitive to the much cheaper chloroquine.

Thanks, Duckear, for pointing out that I had it backwards. A waste is a terrible thing to mind.

Malarone is required in areas where the bugs are chloroquine resistant.

My brain used to work in both reverse and forward gears. Now it's pretty much forward only, and even then I have to rev it up slowly . . .

Given the many mentioned side effects of the various prophylaxis, one could consider a natural option. I found this Demal 200.

http://www.blueturtlegroup.com/catalog/1

I know alot of people who trust these more natural remedies as a ton of people have bad reactions/side effects to conventional medicines.

Guys,
There is one thing to consider re: Malarone for malaria prevention and the use of Doxy or other tetracyclines for tick bite treatment or general antibiotic applications. That is the fact that there can be a reaction between atovaquone (one of the two active components of Malarone) and the tetracycline family of antibiotics which includes doxy.

A Google search for Malarone drug interactions turned up the following:

What other drugs will affect atovaquone and proguanil?

The following drugs can interact with atovaquone and proguanil. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);

rifabutin (Mycobutin);

rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane);

tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap); or metoclopramide (Reglan).

Concomitant treatment with tetracycline has been associated with approximately a 40% reduction in plasma concentrations of atovaquone.

(I presume such a reduction would affect the antimalarial activity of Malarone, but to what extent, I don't know.)

I take malarone. I find that I have difficulty sleeping while taking it.

I have taken larium on one safari. Personally, I had no problems. About 2 weeks into the safari, my brother (who was also taking it) became violently ill on the shore of Lake Natron in Tanzania. I honestly believed he was going to die. I have never seen anyone that ill. The doctors think it was a reaction to larium. I'll never take it again.

I know of one case of a local doctor having a psychotic reaction to larium. He had to be tied to a tree. This is a rock solid guy with absolutely no history of mental illness.

Having had malaria I don't wish to ever experience it again. The Travel clinic at the University Hospital recommended Larium as the best and I have used it for 8 consecutive Safaris covering 6 months or so total time spent in Zimbabwe. Only side effects were NO malaria.

Here is a Poll that I took.

It is a bit wordy to conform with the poll's requirements that all questions be answered, but in the end, you have 150 votes with a very clear picture of wht drug is prefered.

WENDELL, BUSINESS MUST BE BAD BUDDY

HERE'S HOPING IT IMPROVES FOR US ALL SOON.

I have taken Larium in all 3 of my Safaris.

I always take start taking it 2 weeks before recommended, and take it 2 weeks after it is recommended. I do not want to get Malaria.

On my last trip my wife and I took Larium for 84 days. We did not have any bad side effects.

And we do not have malaria.

In fact I should probably take it all the time as it mellows my dreams out. No kidding.

For those that don't have the side effects, Larium is a great drug.

After hearing one too many complaints, I have stopped writing it unless someone has taken it in the past without trouble.

The biggest downside to doxy is Doxycycline makes you very sensitive to the sun (photosensitive). If you are taking doxy, make sure to protect yourself from the sun.

Malarone has been my only anti-malarial on all of my African Safaris.

I was doing a month in/month out tour cycle to Kenya and later, Papua New Guinea and always took doxy. The problem with doxy is that you have to take it for a month after leaving the risk area, so I found myself taking doxy 365 days a year. Malarone wasn't available then so I just quit taking anything. Never got hit, but we had a guy in PNG who almost died from malaria, and the project manager's wife there was taking Larium and got malaria anyway. Sometimes these drugs work and sometimes they don't.

Doxy is used routinely everyday by people around the world for Rosacea ,Acne, etc, etc,.

Few patients ever have any severe issuses, doxy does have a greater frequency of skin complaints than some other atnibiotics.

(that said if it is YOU that has this side effect it feels like a 100% )

Even so the numbers are tiny in view of the total daily consumption of the med.

I have personally taken doxy for well over 12 months at a time in the past.

IN Short: bad if its you, though chances are small)

I've used Larium, Doxy, and the chloroquine/paludrine" cocktail while living three years in Zim (99-2002), and Malarone when I returned to Africa on safari in 2007.

Larium - really bad short term memory loss for about three weeks.

Doxy was great, until I was sunburned even though I was well-tanned.

The chloroquine/paludrine had no bad effects, but I understand it is not considered to be as effective as Malarone.

No side effects from Malarone, and I'll use it again. You may have to tell your doctor about it, however - mine hadn't heard of it until I asked for it.

In Oz we have an insect repellant product called Bushman's which contains both Deet (perfect for repelling mozzies) and a sun screen. Combined with Doxy you can't go wrong.

I just returned from Namibia last night. I used doxy without any issues. I just used sunscreen everyday.