Malaria Treatment FAQ:
I’m moving to Mozambique Africa for a year and malaria is really high high in that region. I know that Malarone and Lariam (Mefloquine) are the best two Malaria preventive drugs… Malarone is SO expensive but Lariam has so many side effects.. Which one do you think works better or which do you recommend? Also, I know a lot of people who take doxycycline alone as a preventive. Do you think doxycycline would work just as well as the two main drugs? I know you sun burn easily with doxycycline, but is it as good as preventing Malaria as Malarone or Lariam? I’m thinking about buying both Lariam and doxycycline (they are both cheap) for a year and taking Lariam. If I have weird side effects on Lariam switching to doxycycline. Would you advise from this?
I’m moving to Mozambique Africa for a year and malaria is really high high in that region. I know that Malarone and Lariam (Mefloquine) are the best two Malaria preventive drugs… Malarone is SO expensive but Lariam has so many side effects.. Which one do you think works better or which do you recommend? Also, I know a lot of people who take doxycycline alone as a preventive. Do you think doxycycline would work just as well as the two main drugs? I know you sun burn easily with doxycycline, but is it as good as preventing Malaria as Malarone or Lariam? I’m thinking about buying both Lariam and doxycycline (they are both cheap) for a year and taking Lariam. If I have weird side effects on Lariam switching to doxycycline. Would you advise from this?
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Quinine water still helps too, plus it mixes well with gin!
WARNING - One drug does not fit all!
Just as there are several variants of malaria - so you need to know what the best drug is for the area you are going to. Local knowledge is prime when it comes to making that choice!
we used to prescribe Doxy and Mefloquine to the troops in Haiti, but Cipro works just as well, take a 500mg dose of Cipro. get it from your doctor. its a one time dose. it should do the trick but it will only last for about 28 days in your system.
LAPIAM
Doxcycline
Quinine
atovaquone-proguanil-oral, Malarone
chloroquine-oral, Aralen
halofantrine-oral, Halfan
hydroxychloroquine, Plaquenil
mefloquine-oral, Lariam
primaquine phosphate-oral, Primaquine
proguanil-oral
pyrimethamine-oral, Daraprim
quinine (antimalarial)-oral, Quinerva, Quinite, QM-260
sulfadoxine with pyrimethamine-oral, Fansidar
lariam is once a week. It can make you crazy especailly if youre already neurotic.
doxycycline is daily; you cant drink much alcohol or go in the sun. bad rash from sun.
I’d rather take Lariam. dont drink on the day you take it. Better to avoid mozzies. OK to switch between the two every now and then.