Cheap anti-malarials?

dixie_dean_2

Anyone got and ideas? Because of where we are going we need Malarone, which are the most expensive tablets. Any recommendations of cheap websites or semi-legal methods of getting them any cheaper would be greatly appreciated.

mystic_trev

Why can't you use Doxycycline? Just as good as Malarone, although it can make your skin more sensitive, I've never had a problem.

dixie_dean_2

It's not "just as good".

bouquiniste

dixie_dean wrote: »

Any recommendations of cheap websites or semi-legal methods of getting them any cheaper would be greatly appreciated.

Please please PLEASE to the power of a million DON'T DO THIS.

Fake medicines are rife on the net. This means that they don't do what they're supposed to - either they are dangerous in themselves (you really don't want to know what's in there), or they are just chalk and colouring or they only have a wee bit of the active ingredient.

Think the last one doesn't matter?

It has created a new, far more lethal, strain of malaria. Literally thousands of people have caught the disease in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria etc) because of fake pills. The mosquitoes are now immune to certain drugs as there was only, say, 10% of the active ingredient present in the people they bit, so they developed resistance.

I am not being a scandal-monger, I am not making this up, I can give you a thousand and one anecdotes and links...

Please, I am begging you. DO NOT BUY MEDICINES ON THE NET.

Gebo26

I found that Stratford Pharmacy were the cheapest for Malarone.

They won't sell them without a prescription - you'll need a private one, but your doctor might not charge you for it.

The web address is https://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk

Voyager2002

Where are you going? Are you sure you need malarone?

There are very few regions of the world where malarone is the only effective anti-malarial (Cambodia is the main example). For most destinations, malarone is really a Rolls-Royce solution, but other, cheaper prophylactic regimes give adequate protection. So I suggest you do a little more research: the Health branch of the Lonely Planet website is actually a good place to start.

Personally, I refuse to take malarone because it is not available in countries where malaria is a problem (the only Asian country where you can buy it is Singapore), and I object to the idea of special medicines exclusively for tourists that are denied to the people who are most in need of them.

dixie_dean_2

I'm pretty sure we do need Malarone but will double check. I have used Doxy before and was fine but I think some of the areas of Brazil and Boliva we are travelling too do require Malarone. Also prob not worth the risk for my gf as she is very pale-skinned. Although I want to save money I don't want to take a risk so if it has to be Mal then so be it. Re websites, I wasn't asking for dodgy companies but there are legitimate ones who operate vie the net with a prescription and also possible loopholes if you know a doctor (I think) that I was wondering about.

bouquiniste

Thanks for that Dixie - and sorry for going off on one, just one of my pet subjects...