Malaria medication advice?

[daktari]

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Hi, I was wondering whether anyone who's traveled abroad has any experience with anti-malarial medications. My doctor told me to simply choose one of the three the CDC suggests and I've been getting conflicting reports from people about Lariam vs Malorone or doxycycline. Thanks!

 

[thirdclius]

I thought malaria meds depend on where you're going. maybe check CDC as to which one will give you the protection against malaria in that region.
Well, when I went to Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Mad, and Mauritius) I brought doxycycline. It was pretty good because it was cheaper than Malorone. I heard that one of the malaria meds causes people to have some sort of really vivid dream/hallucination as a side effect. I didn't get one when I was taking doxy so I don't think it's that one.

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone who's traveled abroad has any advice about which of the three anti-malarial medications I should take. I've been getting conflicting reports from people about Lariam vs Malorone or doxycycline. Thanks!

 

[sdn1977]

The CDC has the most recent info for what medications are advised for the countries you are planning to visit. The info & website are updated monthly. Search for CDC malaria & go to the clinicians section.

Lariam is the drug in which patients have vivid dreams & visual disturbances.

 

[Tadgie]

I second that on the lariam. There have been some antecdotal evidence for neuro problems with it especially in the military, where it is often the drug of choice. However, outside of the military it is often only used for locations that have malaria strains resistant to traditional meds, which i believe is mostly southeast asia, correct me if I'm wrong. As long as you're not headed there, take one of the cheapest ones and good luck if you get nautious from it, it sucks.

 

[my alias]

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone who's traveled abroad has any experience with anti-malarial medications. My doctor told me to simply choose one of the three the CDC suggests and I've been getting conflicting reports from people about Lariam vs Malorone or doxycycline. Thanks!

Where are you going? In some regions the malaria is resistant to certain meds, so you really do need to check the CDC website. I've taken chloroquine (Aralen) for extended periods. It's effective in preventing malaria in Central America (except parts of Panama). It's cheap and I haven't experienced any sides effects at all. You need to take 500 mg one week before travel, 500 mg once a week during travel, and once a week for 4 weeks after coming home. You can buy the trade name (Aralen) in central american pharmacias for about 25 cents a pill. Also remember to use eau de DEET, as that will also protect you from dengue.