QantasA333 From Australia, joined Jan 2007, 531 posts, RR: 4 Posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2832 times:
Towards the end of September, I will be travelling to Malaysia, not only to Kuala Lumpur but also to the area around the city Sandakan. This is a malaria prone area, and have prescribed the anti-malaria medication Lariam, which I have heard mixed reactions about.
Has anyone here taken this medication before? If so, what were you views, side effects?
planeguy727 From United States of America, joined Mar 2007, 1077 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 2824 times:
I have taken the medication for several trips. Never a single side effect. I was given a caution about the vivid dreams but never experienced them. No problems at all. Now when I travel and need an anti-malarial I ask for Lariam.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16941 posts, RR: 57 Reply 2, posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2756 times:
Some people get the "vivid dreams" side-effect.
Believe me. It's a million times better than malaria.
Doc I second that. I took Malarone when I was wandering around Burma and Northern Thailand with a friend. Needless to say the friend decided not to take the pills and ended up with malaria. Luckily we were in Northern Thailand at the time and were able to get some herbal remedies to *try* and lessen the suffering. Let's just say I was fine with the vivid dreams. (and they were not that bad overall)
Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
Aaron747 From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7737 posts, RR: 27 Reply 4, posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2720 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 2): Believe me. It's a million times better than malaria.
Believe me the doc is right. On one of many trips to visit dad in Thailand summer of '95 I had a bout of malaria that kept me stuck in a hotel for a week with daily visits from a doc and a 103F fever and chills for at least three days. The most memorable thing about it was the awful back pain that made it impossible to sleep.
Was still able to enjoy the vacay after the parasites were gone thanks to an awful medicine that made me throw up any solid food for days as well...I don't recommend it! Oh well at least now I have immunity to whichever variety it was.
The gamma globulin I took before the trip didn't do a bit of good - just know that as well. Anti-malarials are a very good idea.
[Edited 2010-08-09 15:21:05]
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signol From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2007, 2953 posts, RR: 7 Reply 5, posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2712 times:
When I went to south-east Asia a few years ago, my GP recommended doxycycline as an anti-malarial drug. I didn't have any side effects at all, and either it worked, or the mossies (like the ones here) didn't like the taste of me anyway!
Whatever you do, do take precautions, and use a net to sleep under and repellent as well, as even people taking the drugs can still catch malaria.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16941 posts, RR: 57 Reply 6, posted (2 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2711 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 5): When I went to south-east Asia a few years ago, my GP recommended doxycycline as an anti-malarial drug. I didn't have any side effects at all, and either it worked, or the mossies (like the ones here) didn't like the taste of me anyway!
Whatever you do, do take precautions, and use a net to sleep under and repellent as well, as even people taking the drugs can still catch malaria.
Depends on where you are going and the current local resistance patterns. I know that much malaria is becoming doxy-resistant.
fridgmus From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1383 posts, RR: 11 Reply 7, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2664 times:
Quoting signol (Reply 5): When I went to south-east Asia a few years ago, my GP recommended doxycycline as an anti-malarial drug.
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 6): Depends on where you are going and the current local resistance patterns. I know that much malaria is becoming doxy-resistant.
Here, in the armpit of the world, we have a choice, either once a week Malarone or a daily dose of Doxy. Malarone has side effects, but Doxy, none that we know of, so all of us here take Doxy.
Haven't heard about Malaria becoming Doxy-resistant Doc. Can you please provide some details that I can pass on to my company?
Also, I haven't heard of any cases of Malaria here at all!
Thanks,
F
The Lockheed Super Constellation, the REAL Queen of the Skies!
Braybuddy From Ireland, joined Aug 2004, 5306 posts, RR: 35 Reply 8, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2637 times:
I took Lariam on several occasions going abroad and had no problems whatsoever. Last time I asked my doc for it, in 2005, he was reluctant to prescribe it, citing the side-effects, and recommended some other drug. I told him I'd used it several times and never had a problem.
What followed was the worst holiday I've ever had. We were in Cambodia for two weeks, and the first day we were in a travel agency booking a trip, when I suddenly started to sweat, then keeled over at the counter. I came round quickly, and went back to the hotel for the rest of the day. I was fine, or so I thought.
The following weekend we visited the temple complex of Angkor Thom, a beautiful, ancient ruin which should have been one of the hightlights of the trip. I remember starting the trip feeling not quite part of what was going on. I couldn't understand why, and as the day progressed I felt more and more removed from the situation, and started to feel depressed., for absolutely no reason at all.
The following weekend we were on a beach and I just wanted to go home -- again for no reason whatsoever. The resort was unspoilt and beautiful, if small, and the perfect place to relax and just do nothing. That evening I had a major bust-up with one of my travelling companions, the worst we've ever had. I completely flipped after a minor disagreement, and after that I just couldn't wait to get on the plane home.
We arrived back home on a Sunday, and I went to work the following day. As the morning wore on I started to feel down, and at one stage felt the walls were closing-in around me. I'd never known anything like it in my life. Luckily I was on my own for the day: I wouldn't have been able to deal with anyone. I ended the day with a major downer, and couldn't wait to get home, where I hit the bottle of gin and went straight to bed. By now I really thought I was starting to lose my mind, and kept going over the previous downers to try and establish a link. Then it hit me: they all occured the day after taking Lariam. I had been taking them on Saturdays, but forgot to take one my last day and took the last one on the Sunday, the day before I returned to work. I had one tablet left to take the following weekend, and that quickly went in the bin I can tell you. The downers never returned.
I discoverd subsequently that Lariam had been the suspected cause of a number of murders/suicides at Ft Bragg army base in 1993.
DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16941 posts, RR: 57 Reply 9, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2627 times:
Quoting fridgmus (Reply 7):
Here, in the armpit of the world, we have a choice, either once a week Malarone or a daily dose of Doxy. Malarone has side effects, but Doxy, none that we know of, so all of us here take Doxy.
Doxy has a nasty side-effect in some people of a naaaaaaaasty rash in response to sun exposure. Also, you do NOT want a doxy capsule to dissolve in your throat. You can get an esophageal erosion to the point of esophageal perforation. Make sure you take it with a good, tall glass of water and take it while sitting or standing upright.
oa260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25129 posts, RR: 60 Reply 10, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 2614 times:
Its a very personal thing but I have heard friends who had severe sickness and other side effects, I guess the question is which is more dangerous getting malaria or taking the drugs.
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DocLightning From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 16941 posts, RR: 57 Reply 11, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 2589 times:
Quoting fridgmus (Reply 7):
Haven't heard about Malaria becoming Doxy-resistant Doc. Can you please provide some details that I can pass on to my company?
iakobos From Belgium, joined Aug 2003, 3305 posts, RR: 37 Reply 12, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2563 times:
Quoting oa260 (Reply 10): I guess the question is which is more dangerous getting malaria or taking the drugs.
Taking the drugs do not prevent one to get malaria.
Anti-malarials are simply a treatment against malaria...that you do not have (yet) !
Quoting signol (Reply 5): Whatever you do, do take precautions, and use a net to sleep under and repellent as well, as even people taking the drugs can still catch malaria.
Exactly !
Lariam and other related drugs have always side effects but those vary with the taker.
In any case, dont take Lariam for long period of times (say above 3-4 weeks).
fridgmus From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1383 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2541 times:
We've all been warned by the Navy Medics who give us our Doxy to take it with a bottle of water (half liter). They never said anything about one getting stuck in your throat! OUCH!
I've passed on your link to the CDC to our company back in the US, not that it will do much good I've just been told. We have to take whatever the Military gives us.
F
The Lockheed Super Constellation, the REAL Queen of the Skies!
L410Turbolet From Czech Republic, joined May 2004, 5411 posts, RR: 18 Reply 14, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 2488 times:
Quoting iakobos (Reply 12):
In any case, dont take Lariam for long period of times (say above 3-4 weeks).
He should take the mediaction prior to his trip and for a quite while after he gets home.
Adults and children weighing over 45 kilograms (kg) (99 pounds)—250 milligrams (mg) (1 tablet) one week before traveling to an area where malaria occurs. Then 250 mg once a week on the same day of each week and preferably after your main meal while staying in the area and every week for four weeks after leaving the area.
iakobos From Belgium, joined Aug 2003, 3305 posts, RR: 37 Reply 15, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2485 times:
Thanks for correcting me, I meant 3-4 months. Organs like the kidneys dont like it that much.
Lariam's dosage says 1 wk before and 4 wks after.
People with experience start 2 wks before and end max 2 wks later.
It still does not prevent you to get the disease...but better half-safe than sorry.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13369 posts, RR: 64 Reply 16, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2481 times:
Years ago, when I was travelling to the rural Philippines (lots of rice paddies with lots of mosquitoes), I was prescribed a weekly dose of Lariam and a daily pill of some other anti-malaria medication (I assume quinine based). Then I had a pack of Paludrine in my suitcase to be taken in emergencies only (if I got infected with malaria resistant to Lariam and the other medication).
Lufthansa411 From Germany, joined Jan 2008, 692 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 2453 times:
Quoting fridgmus (Reply 7): Haven't heard about Malaria becoming Doxy-resistant Doc. Can you please provide some details that I can pass on to my company?
From what I was told by the doctor I went to see to get the vaccines I needed to travel, travel docs still prescribe Doxy for most of the world although more recently (in the last 20 years or so) it has become much less effective in jungle areas of SE Asia and Southern China. All the other regions have not shown a significant statistical difference, but for whatever reason the mosquitos in the SE Asian region are much more resistant than in other parts of the world and so many shy away from Doxy when travelling to this region. The doc did say though that because it is the cheapest, she will prescribe it if it is the only thing insurance will cover, as it still mitigates some of the risk of catching it, just not nearly as much as the other drugs do.
Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
fridgmus From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 1383 posts, RR: 11 Reply 18, posted (2 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2422 times:
Like I said, we only have what the military gives us. Either Doxy or Malarone. But thankfully, there have been no reported cases of Malaria so far and summer is slowly ending. Can't wait for cool weather!
Thanks All,
F
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