Malaria tablets

SallyD

I went all through this in April for a trip to East Africa. Boots.com was by far the cheapest and received by post within 48 hours. Now, I nearly went barmy reading up on the pro's and con's. From what I understand Larium is not recommended for people that have history of mental illness, especially depression problems. Doxycycline can attract sunburn. I took the Larium and was fine. I started 3 weeks before I went away leaving me time to change the medication if necessary. The larium I bought from Boots online was even cheaper than a regular chemist is Nairobi!

karyaneka

Please please please don't risk taking Larium when there are so many alternatives. I took it once and like many people had no problems, but the second time was horrific. I had hallucinations on and off for 12 hours and have never been so terrified in my entire life. My partner was trying to restrain me whilst I was hysterical but I thought he was a monster from a horror film who was trying to kill me. I apparently attempted to run into the sea saying I wanted to drown because I was so frightened. As far as I am aware I was fit and healthy and have no history of depression. On returning home I felt nervous and jumpy and was afraid of the dark or walking alone, this lasted for several months. A year or so later whilst on holiday in Goa, my partner and I met 2 psychiatric nurses who said they had cared for patients suffering from the side effects of Larium, ranging from mild depression to severe psychosis. Their view was that it was one of the most dangerous drugs ever made available in this country, and that these side effects had been seriously hushed up.

juniper1

Hi
Just come back from South Africa (Kruger) on the cheap! and we took Docyclycline. Took it last year as well and is alot cheaper and better for you (with little side effects) than alot of other malaria tablets. Ask the doctor if its suitable for your area. It is also an antibiotic and is used to treat loads of other conditions.

SallyD

Doxycycline can attract the sun like a magnet. If you burn easily then do not take it. Malaria -v- Larium? If you start the Larium in plenty of time and it affects you then you have time to change. Boots was cheapest for me as mentioned in my post of the 21st July 2005.

derbyjo

I am going to West Africa for 6 months and have been told that I can start Larium in a week, to give me 2 weeks before I go to test for side effects, but all these noted ones are really worrying me. I am going to work and don't fancy the symptoms that have been described. I can't take the malerone because i am away for 6 months, has anyone tried alternatives for such a length of time?

TOMCAT_3

Just realised that my thread dated 20-07-2005 said I took larium when in fact I took Malarone (must have been the drink talking !) and no problems at all. Sorry derbyjo cant help you as I,ve only taken Malarone but I did quite a bit of research and larium is quite dodgy,suggest you check the MASTA website at http://www.masta.org/ and pick the cheapest alternative to Larium that works for your area of travel.Hope this is of some help.

coffeebean

derbyjo wrote:

I am going to West Africa for 6 months and have been told that I can start Larium in a week, to give me 2 weeks before I go to test for side effects, but all these noted ones are really worrying me. I am going to work and don't fancy the symptoms that have been described. I can't take the malerone because i am away for 6 months, has anyone tried alternatives for such a length of time?

I was in West Africa earlier this year, I work for a charity and took Malarone. However, the people who stay there for months take Doxycycline, but do take a break of a week or so and have a supply of Chloroquine to use during that period, then go back on the Doxycycline again. You can buy Doxycycline really cheaply there - I go to Gambia - and although the mozzies are resistant in some part to Chloroquine it does offer a degree of protection, but only during the Doxycycline break, and should not be used as the main anti-malarial for longer than a week - 10 days.

I cannot stress enough the use of anti-malarials, but would never use Larium, the side effects are awful if you should get affected by it.