Discount Anti Malaria Drugs

[ffs]

The Paludrine + Avloclor Travel Pack (112 tablets in seven strips suitable for two weeks travel) is almost universally priced at £15.50.

However I have found one supplier who supplies by the strip, very useful if you are going for more than two weeks, and at a significant discount as well - seven strips for £10.70 (plus £1.50 p&p)

http://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk/index.cfm?page=pharmacy.prodDetail&productid=19

Obviously you should ensure this is the correct treatment for the area you are visiting.

[Tojo Ralph]

Good call... Was just heading out to get 3 packs at lunchtime. ;)

21 Strips chemist (3 x pack @ £15.50) = £46.50
20 Strips via special delivery tomorrow = £34.55 .. (I had one strip left over)

Saving £11.95 and no need to waste valuable lunchtime. ;)

[MORPH3US]

What are the side effects like on these?

I'm off to Goa for a week in December and don't really want to bother with all the side effects I have heard about and because its only a week.

Didn't bother when I went to Thailand and I was fine just using loads of Deet!

M

[ceebeeby]

Just a query (from somewone who works in the health service) - why don't you get it on prescription from your GP?? Reason I ask is that you need different anti-malaria for different areas and they will be able to look up the one most relevant for you - it also depends on your weight as well. For example we're going to Namibia at Xmas and need Malarone and Malarone Paediatric (cost to the Health Service approx £45 per pack and need two packs each as going for almost 4 weeks), cost to me is £6.50, cost for kids is free. Phoned up GP gave her mine and kids weights, prescriptions handed in to local chemist and my Mum picked it up for me yesterday.

Hope this helps and have a great time.

[ceebeeby]

Oooh eck, just read your posting MORPH3US and would URGE you please to take.

Side effects dependent on which drug you're taking, but have a BNF in front of me which lists all drug side effects. For example the one listed above Paludrine/Avloclor (cost to Health Service £8.79 per pack) is listed under Proguanil side effects: mild gastric intolerance and diarrhoea; occasionally mouth ulcers and stomatitis; skin reactions and hair loss reported; rarely hypersensitivity reactions such as urticaria and angioedema (side effects always list worst case scenario - for example you should look at the side effects for paracetamol!!)

Could tell you some awful horror stories of what could happen if you don't take it - know someone personally who had Dengy fever recently - urghhh! Some of the things you can get can stay in your system forever even if treated once you're home (and the treatments far worse than taking in the first place).

You should always take prophylaxis if poss!!

[ffs]

I'm not registered with a GP. The only time I ever see a doctor (or practice nurse) is to get jabs when I go travelling. Each time I get jabs I have to re-register because I get de-registered as I don't otherwise use the GP's services.

I thought GPs were paid for each registered patient, so it would be in their interests to check with me before removing me from their patient list, but they don't.

Since you have pointed out the savings to be had by obtaining the Anti Malarials on prescription, I will check to see whether I can get them on prescription when I get my jabs - thanks for that.

PS The site I have used to find area specific info is www.traveldoctor.co.uk

[ceebeeby]

Excellent web-ste reccommendation!

Hmmm .... something dodgy going on with your GP's as there is no way that they should remove you from their books EVER without telling you / aking you? And even then, the only real reason is if you are a naughty patient?!? Would write to your local NHS / Primary Care Board (or phone them) and ask why this has happened - presumably they're making you pay prescription charges for your jags (and even to see Practice Nurse you must have a named Doctor).

You sound like a model patient, and it doesn't matter if you only ever go to the GP's to register and don't use them again for the next 20 years! You're right they're paid per patient and they don't get extra for 'not' treating you, so you think you'd be the ideal person to keep :confused:

Anyway, hope this has helped!

[Tojo Ralph]

What are the side effects like on these?

Myself, the missus and the wee lad did a "dry run" taking these a month past, we all took for two weeks and no side effects whatsoever reported. :)

[medical]

i thought antimalarias are not allowed on FP10 and you need a private Prescription for this
medical

[Tojo Ralph]

Just a query (from somewone who works in the health service) - why don't you get it on prescription from your GP?? .

We were told quite clearly by our GP that Paludrine + Avloclor are NOT available on prescription and thus the need to buy for myself Missus + Wee lad.

The jabs are different, you go see the Nurse/holiday clinic at your surgery, and they advise what you need. The likes of Hep A, Typhoid, Dyptheria, Tetanus, Polio, etc are all on prescription, free to laddo, covered by the missus's prepaid card, and I as always, paid for mine. :(

Now, if you need the likes of rabies, Yellow Fever (I think) and others, you then start heading down the private prescription route and it's expensive.

[MORPH3US]

Oooh eck, just read your posting MORPH3US and would URGE you please to take.

Ok, ok, you convinced me.

I'll stop being a tight !!!! and get some. Will go and see the doctors and see what they say, but does anyone know what sort i'll need in Goa?

That Travel Doctor site says somthing about "Chloroquine Resistant Malaria" whatever that means!!!

Cheers

M

[Tojo Ralph]

I'm off to Goa for a week in December and don't really want to bother with all the side effects I have heard about and because its only a week.

I'm 95% sure you'll need these for Goa.. Start one week before, take for the week, take for four weeks after.... but give your clinic a call to check. :)

[lottie$]

I agree - I am off to Thailand in Feb, and I can get the jabs on the NHS, but I have had to go to a private travel clinic for the malaria tablets, as I was informed that they aren't available on the NHS.

[Tojo Ralph]

I'll stop being a tight !!!! and get some. Will go and see the doctors and see what they say, but does anyone know what sort i'll need in Goa?

Risk of Malaria is present throughout the whole of India including Goa, in areas below 2000m. You will require Chloroquine + Proguanil (Paludrine/Avloclor) as the preferred antimalarial medication if visiting these areas

http://www.travelpharm.com/index.cfm/malaria/Countries.Details/country_id/178/subject/india

;)

[Lazy_Ike]

What are the side effects like on these?

I'm off to Goa for a week in December and don't really want to bother with all the side effects I have heard about and because its only a week.

Didn't bother when I went to Thailand and I was fine just using loads of Deet!

M
I know nothing about the strains of malaria in these two areas.
Further I appreciate there are people who suffer badly from side effects of anti-malarial drugs.
However having spent my entire life up until 4 years ago in malaria endemic areas of Africa I would caution that use of loads of Deet should be seen as part of avoidance, not the only procedure used.
I have seen too many previously fit and healthy people die within a week of showing symptoms, and this despite being under the care of of a Doctor and in some instances actually in hospital.
Also cannot over emphasis the need to continue taking the medication for the specified period after leaving the malarial area, because again have direct knowledge of deaths because of not following this procedure. Sorry to be dramatic, but the dangerous nature of this disease cannot be over stated.
As recommended, Consult your GP for appropriate meds for your destination.

[Lazy_Ike]

Ok, ok, you convinced me.

"Chloroquine Resistant Malaria" whatever that means!!!
M
I was preparing my response while all the other response regarding taking meds came in.
Used to be that Malaria was treated with Quinine, but this was found to increase the incidence of Black Water fever.
Chloroquin was a cheap and effective malaria treatment medication developed because of the complications caused by quinine. However a combination of its use for both prophylaxis and treatment, and indiscriminate use on populations indigenous to malaria endemic areas (thus killing any natural immunity they had acquired) resulted in the malaria parasite becoming resistant to choroquine. A great pity because it was/is a very cheap drug.
Usually an area classified as having Choroquine Resistant Malaria will have the greatest risks for infection.

[black-saturn]

When I went to Vietnam I bought Boots own make for £17.00

[ceebeeby]

Hi, just come back and caught up on messages:

Firstly, no prescription for anti-malarias - different health boards have different prescription policies (i.e. depending on how tight they are depends on what drugs you're given (recent news articles on post-code prescriptions). They might be more sympathetic if you have underlying other condition or are high-risk ... but some anti-malarias are prescription only (so think they're being super tight not prescribing). You can "under the Freedom of Information Act" request access to your Health Boards prescription / medicines policy and then if you feel strongly enough, challenge the decision (i.e. why should your neighbouring health authority allow it to be prescribed but not yours - very political). Dunno if it's worth it - but might make you feel better! If you know your GP you could always advise them, that if you do get Malaria, and come back and need treated it'll be a darn site more expensive for them to treat you then (if you don't die of course).

Rabies vaccinations - have not yet found a Healthboard that would prescribe this, however, when I enquired into the cost and was told circa. £100 each person, and I told them that they were only paying £22.15 per dose (3 doses) and that's only £66.45, why so much profit as NHS is non-profit making service (believe me when I tell you that the nursing and admin charge for 3 jags wouldn't make up the excess either!). Surprisingly enough no official response as yet.

Chloroquine - Only recommended for the prophylaxis of malaria in areas where the risk of chloroquine resistant falciparum malaria is low. Commercial names are: chloroquine sulphate; avloclor (as above); nivaquine and the paludrine/avloclor mentioned above. Various ingredients but the main one is chloroquine (surprisingly). Any good pharmacy should be able to help you with this.

Blimey - must go and do some work!

[Tojo Ralph]

.....Saving £11.95 and no need to waste valuable lunchtime. ;)

..... Delivered at 9-00am this morning..... Luvvly Jubbly :)

[kirstyreanne]

Hi,

Travelling to the Dominican Republic at Christmas for 1 week. We are a couple aged 28 & 22. Could anybody recommend anti-malaria tablets for us please?
This website states that we need chloroquine - could anyone confirm please?

http://www.travelpharm.com/index.cfm/malaria/Countries.Details/country_id/20/subject/dominican_republic

[Tojo Ralph]

Hi,

Travelling to the Dominican Republic at Christmas for 1 week. We are a couple aged 28 & 22. Could anybody recommend anti-malaria tablets for us please?
This website states that we need chloroquine - could anyone confirm please?

http://www.travelpharm.com/index.cfm/malaria/Countries.Details/country_id/20/subject/dominican_republic

The info appears correct (based on other websites) so it's these you need...

https://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk/index.cfm?page=pharmacy.prodDetail&productid=16

1 week before, 1 week during, 4 weeks after = 6 weeks X 2 tablets = 12 tablets.

12 X 2 persons = 24 x 10p (inc vat) = £2-40 + £1-50 P+P = £3-90

And best of all, there is a tel number you can call and place the order over the phone.

:)

[smartie1976]

I have been advised the ones with least side-effects are those taken daily (start 2 days before you fly out, and continue for 1 week following your return)

[kirstyreanne]

I ordered my malaria tablets on Friday & they came Saturday morning. Would thoroughly recommend this site. Many thanks to the OP.

[mrsw]

Thanks for this - I have saved a small fortune! Ordered last Thursday, tablets arrived the following day .V happy.

[JoanneC]

A great travel advice website is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk. It's the Scottish NHS website so contains very accurate and up to date advice especially about vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis - anti malarial tablets and bite avoidance measures are a must for anyone going to a malarial country!!!

[albalad]

i thought antimalarias are not allowed on FP10 and you need a private Prescription for this
medical

Went to gp's yesterday for info on forthcoming trip and was told exactly the same thing as medical quoted - so the link to pharmacy website appreciated

[moongarden]

the government / NHS official website for looking up this is:
http://www.nathnac.org/index.htm

more government info here:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/malaria/guidelines.htm

best bet - see your GP for free - ask which type of tablet is suitable then go and find the one you are told cheaper

[plumpmouse]

You can also ask your pharmacist they have all the info provided.