Did you get malaria pill side effects?

mercedes10

Yes, Paludrine/Avlocor IS Chloroquine & Proguanil - think it's just the brand name or something. Having vivid dreams etc. is one of the possible listed side-effects, but I can't say I've ever experienced that (not so far anyway).

These anti-malarials are regularly recommended in the UK as someone else already mentioned. They are the only anti-malarial I've ever taken and I've never had any probs. Malarone is supposed to be the great new drug, but then its obviously depends on your destination as to whether it's suitable or not. I have been recommended chloroquine again for my trip to India this July. I'm slightly worried though by Vistet's chloroquine resistance map which includes India!!

Which anti-malarials do people here usually take for India?

Bryan

Another thing that may be useful to those that choose to take malaria tablets
By them in Asia they are very cheap and will save youa fortune rather than buying them in Europe /US etc
HAving never used them apart from a couple of weeks this is second hand information

Bryan

__________________
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(As come it will for a' that),
That Sense and Worth o'er a' the earth,
Shall bear the gree an a' that.
For a' that, an a' that,
It's coming yet for a' that,
That man to man, the world, o'er
Shall brithers be for a' that.
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vistet

Good idea if you have a clear idea on what to use if we are talking antibiotics (I came out of the Infectious Diseases Clinic after two jabs in the arm , a prescription , no pills and 80 € less ... ouch! before my latest trip) .
With antimalarials make sure you have the first weekly dose at home, before starting the trip.

lobo

i hate mosquitoes, damm things they should be wiped out.

On a lighter note i was fine with my pills my girlfriend got sick and threw up a lot though.

cyberhippie

The Chloroquine & Proguanil (paludrine) is certainly not old fashioned, and is the prescribed drug combination of choice by most health authorities.
A notable exception to this is America who based on the findings of the FDA do not recognise the combination.

The important point, that many miss whilst scanning websites for info, is the COMBINATION!
Whilst the malaria parasite is resistant to Chloroquine when this drug is combined with Paludrine it is very effective!


Much of what you will find written about the drugs of choice on American health sites, are influenced by the FDA (perhaps by law?) so you will find many American health sites that prescribe Malarone and Larium. simply using a sledgehammer to crush an egg.
The Chloroquine & Proguanil (paludrine) combination is perfectly adequate and I reckon will save you a few dollars as well!!

One more thing there has been a lot of talk about getting your meds in India itself, this will pose you some problems, Malarone and Larium are not readily available and trying to find Proguanil is also difficult, I base this judgement on a little study I did last time around. I asked for these drugs at various chemists and was told that they were not easily available in India.
Though one did have Proguanil, looked like he'd bought them off a tourist!!

butterball

Made me feel queasy ( did I spell that right ? ) all the time - and , yes , some weird 'dreams' but not really trippy...

It is a problem in my book

freenote

Thanks for the info. cyberhippie.You have made my path easier.

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guerik

Say you're going over for 6 months or more, are you really meant to take anti-malarials the whole time? Yuk. I'll go to the travel doctor for advice before I go anyway, but if anyone's done this let me know.
And how do you hang a mosquito net in a hotel room? Most don't have hooks anyway from what I saw.
Last time I was only there for a month, took the Doxycycline for the first week or so, didn't see a single mosquito (and I'm usually a magnet for them), so I stopped taking them. I was in the North, in winter, so I don't know why I bought them anyway

Apparently mosquitos don't like iron or vitamin B either, this could be an old wives' tale but a bit of vegemite on toast never hurt anyone!

edwardseco

I took Chloroquine without problems, used Doxycycline succesfully last time despite initial sun sensitivity. I don't think anything is recommended long term (over 6 months). I take braided nylon cord and rig up my net accordingly. Nylon without the frame is less than a pound and is a great convenience..

cyberhippie

Actually you shouldn't use Doxy for any longer than 2 months!Something else I came across last year whilst searching cyberspace.

lightning

Ainsworths homeopathic pharmacy in London do a homeopathic range of travel medicines including anti-malaria pills.

It's one step away from 'what the hell', but I've many friends who've survived years now on nothng else with no side effects.

-on them myself for this trip :-)

cyberhippie

India amongst others are investigating the viabilty of marketing a natural preventative.
Only I just can't remember the name of the plant/herb. It was discovered in China and has been used as preventative for many years in Chinese natural medicine!!
It begins Absu-Absi or something like that anyone know what I'm talking about?? Alb?
I read an article on it somewhere about a month ago but where???

Bryan

Deleted ...Posted on wrong thread

mushyosh

is it Artemisia you are talking about?


http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_artemisia.htm

cyberhippie

Thanks Mushyosh!!
That is indeed the stuff I'm talking about!!
This has been tried and tested in China for some years and I believe showed some positve results!
The problem faced I think is to bring this cure to the masses.
It is a herb and I suppose like most malaria preventatives needs to be taken frequently.
So Indian firms are now trying to solve these problems, to bring about the abilty to produce the medicine in quantities that are cheap and easy to produce!
I remember that the people involved thought that this was still some years away!!
Thanks again mushyosh!!!