Can malaria medicine be purchased in India?

CaitlinECox

Just wanted to chime in on the side of doxycycline. I had no negative side effects from it and also, in the long term, noticed one positive one: it made me nearly invincible to stomach upset from bacteria. I took it for 6 month stretches while in India (taking a break during the dry season in Delhi) and had absolutely no problems.

The ones they sell in India also often have "good bacteria" in the pill, like the stuff in yogurt. It helps keep your stomach healthy by repopulating what the antibiotic kills off.

On the other hand, when I took Lariam (mefloquine) it made me have very suicidal thoughts about jumping off of balconies. Never before and never since have I had such thoughts, so looking back I attribute it to the drug. If you have any sort of history of depression or anxiety, I'd be very wary. They now mention it on their warning labels, I think

machadinha

Yes, a psychiatric history of any kind is a strong contraindication against taking Lariam I believe.

I think/should hope it's a prescription drug anyway? So hopefully this would be checked on before you're prescribed it.

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CaitlinECox

Yeah, it's prescription only. (Which, if it's sold in India, can mean absolutely nothing depending on where you're buying from)

I don't remember the travel medicine doctor asking me anything about mental health at the time, but then again that was back in 2001. I think that was before all these side effects came out into the open. There's been a lot of talk on the topic since then.

machadinha

A good thing to keep in mind yes.

I think those side-effects were already well-known in the mid-90s when I didn't want to take them (or was that paludrine or something? Whatever.) Anyway a good thing to keep in mind too that your doc may not always ask the relevant questions and you may need to ask some yourself Despite all our calls to seek local advice, I understand many Indian doctors may be more happy to pop you some pills than their western counterparts even btw. I just wouldn't know anywhere else to get some remotely reliable advice, save for your local palmist maybe.

edwardseco

Yes, I take sunscrean for the first week and I can feel the skin tingle when out and then my skin adjusts. Grikoo, if your partner is female it may cause yeast infections. Have known one such case. Its also not for children under the age of 10-12 though we edged that slightly since the doc was worried about the malaria in my part of Hyderabad. My case had kind of set the family nerves on edge. Each regimine is a cost-benefit judgement..

edwardseco

"sunscreen" edit boy edit..

karuna

Hey, I resent that!





Interesting stuff machadinha. I wonder what might come of it.

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grikoo

Unfortunately, I can't remember where I saw that, but it was just in the last few days, so fresh in my memory. I'm fairly sure it was one of the larger drug/medical sites.

grikoo

Hmmm, well maybe I'll try taking it and see how it goes. I sincerely doubt that my partner could take it. Bad, stomach, very fair skin, and yes, female.

wonderwomanusa

I take Doxy for 3 months at a time in India (average length of my stay there) and have had no yeast infections, and also haven't noticed any increased sensitivity to sunlight.

novice1000

hi guys,

how much does doxy cost? Its 25GBP here so i might buy it India if its cheaper and has probiotics included as some of u suggest

All good wishes

wonderwomanusa

I believe I bought 100 doses of Doxy for US $10-$12, in a pharmacy in Delhi.

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obione980

The side effects for doxy are fairly easy to work around. As edwardseco said use sunscreen (remembering only about 3% of users suffer the increased sun sensitivity anyway!).

To avoid stomach upset and heartburn - take with food - and do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking.

Vaginal yeast infections - wear 100% cotton underwear, and change at least daily.

Be sure the doxy is within its use by date. Out of date doxy is nasty.

Do not administer to children under about 10 years (can cause staining in growing teeth!).

Doxy's huge plus - it's cheap, available everywhere and effective against all strains of Malaria.

edwardseco

I hear what you are saying. I have fairly serious stomach issues. My doc says I am not a type A individual but a AAA. Basically, he told me to change my lifestyle or risk a cancer that would kill me within 6 months. So grumble, I eat way earlier than my Bengali relatives who eat at 10 PM, etc. I had no problems with Doxy but its carefully supervised by the family! Some people take antiacids with it. ShukraAllah, no problems for me and it seems to prevent some minor stomach nasties as well. I have taken Probiotics and see different info as to whether that helps or not. Love the railway yogurt despite the amazement of all civilized society. Have loved it since the day of steam locomotives on the Indian rail..