Malaria Treatment FAQ:
My fiance is going to the Philippines in July. How many days prior to the trip should she take the malaria pills? I think it is a few days because the pills will make you sick. her mother says the day before the trip. What do you yahoo folk say?
My fiance is going to the Philippines in July. How many days prior to the trip should she take the malaria pills? I think it is a few days because the pills will make you sick. her mother says the day before the trip. What do you yahoo folk say?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
It depends on what pills they are….
some anti malarials take up to 6 months to start working (like mine) but mine dont make me sick who told u they make you sick?
It depends… depends on what drug one is using for malaria prevention. I have a link below to the CDC web site. Quite frankly, I’m alarmed that you’re asking… because your fiance should already be armed with that information if she already has her antimalarial drugs - her prescription should have been labeled as to when to start. The info below is from the CDC web site. Make sure she has plenty of insect repellent with DEET, and consider mosquito nets and gear treated with permethrin.
Atovaquone/proguanil (brand name: Malarone ™) - start 1-2 days before arrival
Doxycycline - 1-2 days before arrival
Mefloquine (brand name Lariam ™ and generic) - start 1 week before arrival
Chloroquine phosphate (brand name Aralen ™ and generics) - 1 week before arrival