Antimalaria
 

What malaria medication should I take and should I? I have been back and forward to my GP and he recommendes me to take Malaria tablets for pakistan and Nepal .

The one I am thinking of taking is Malarone as it has less side effects .

My question is do I really need Malaria tablets for pakistan and Nepal ???

Malaria Hotspots map - Malaria Hotspots

Have a look at the map. Having had malaria I would say yes. Side effects, none I have noticed.

Having also had malaria but taken Lariam since it was first launched on the market I wouldn't necessarily go for Malarone because 'it has less side effects'. Talk to a doctor who knows their stuff, Lariam might suit you, take a 'tester' pill a few weeks before you leave and see if it affected you in any way.

Personally can't take Malarone, took it with me once & had a rare side-effect, hair loss, as a female - I wasn't prepared to put up with it!

Kira

not nice but..
 

Less side effects is as good a reason as any. The problem with Malarone is the cost and the fact that UK doctors don't prescribe more that 1months worth. The lack of 'psychological' side effects with malarone is comforting too - no seeing things or crazy dreams!

I don't suffer with any Lariam side effects, same as a few of my friends ... hence it should be tried if you're cautious!

Kira

I,m going to be around that region too, but for some reason my doctor has recomend chloroquinine tablets l though theses were pretty much useless theses days??

I've also used lariam without experiencing any side effects. Kira's idea about testing it out at home is a good one though, just in case. Also less pills to carry around with you if you go with Lariam.

If you're going for longer than a month Malarone would not be recommended, hence not being able to get a longer prescription. If you don't fancy Larium, Doxycycline is probably the way to go.

Check out the Centre for Disease Control for more info (don't be put off that it's US government associated, they're really good).

Hope this helps.

P

You can get Malerone from your local travel health clinic.

I got 3-4 months supply with no problem. You can even buy it on the net !

What are they now - £1GBP per tablet?

I took my doctor's recommendation to go with Doxycycline for rides through Central and South America and then Africa. I've been happy with it. No side effects and no malaria.

I also packed a few dozen Malarone as an emergency self-treatment in case I was stricken in a remote area.

Bare in mind, the doxy needs to be taken 10 days in advance (I think - please check) before you go into a Malaria infected area where Malarone can be taken the day before making it much more flexible.

Malarone
 

I decide to go with malarone due the fact that you only need to take it two days before entering and 7 days after leaving a malaria area.

Its not cheap but worth it. I am mainly taking them for pakistan and a couple of days wile riding in the risk areas of Nepal below 2500m.

Nothing for India or south east asia. So I should be fine.

I don't understand this "nothing." India's got lots of malaria, and southeast Asia's got some of the worst. Are you really taking antimalarials in Nepal but not India?

Mark

I'm with Mark, I'd be suprised about Nepal but further south there's malaria abound!

Ignore it at your peril!

Kira

malaria
 

Important thread this, I was recomended Malarone for travelling through different malaria zones when you are only a day or a week in an infected are, such as Syria/Turkey, Pakistan and west coast India. You can wait til you are ill, and take a crash course, four tablets a day for three days. Obviously there are going to be 'side effects', but for me this is preferable to taking a daily dose in areas where there is no risk in order to travel onward. Prevention is better than all the pills, but should shit happen Malarone is the so far best option.
I would be very sceptical buying drugs off the internet, Malarone is expensive, but would it be a very bad deal if the pills you bought for half price didn't work when you needed them.
Have to add I have no personal experience with Malarone or malaria.
Peter, in Oslo