Lariam - Nightmares?

I leave for India in a a week and a ahlf, and just took my first lariam pill for malaria two nights ago. Already, I am feeling like this may have been a bad move, as I already experienced very strange dreams. I have never had nightmares and this was the closest thing to it that I can remember. I am wondering if anyone has stopped taking lariam after one dose and has switched to other antimalarials such as Doxycycline, which seems to be getting a better rap. I may just forget them altogether, since I will be in Delhi, Agra, Varanasi and then Haridwar and Himacal Pradesh, where I do not have to worry so much. Seems like the danger is more in West Bengal. Any suggestions?

What does your doctor say about it?

Havent asked but probably "better safe than sorry." But Feeling like you are going insane isn't going to be ok for me. I will indeed ask my doctor and if anything take Doxycycline, but the stories about lariam are too much for me, I wish I hadn't startated it already as I hear it can continue to have side effects for weeks.

Have you had a look at the three "similar threads" listed on the right of your screen here?


Edit - actually, having had a closer look at them, they're not that helpful/current ... I think there's more on the forum here somewhere, but you may have to dig around deeper to find it

Here's a much more recent discussion

Malaria pill related depression or home sickness?

thanks

big help

If it helps I read so many articles about Lariam's bad side effect that I steered well clear of it. Instead my family took Doxycycline (which we're still taking having only just returned) and no-one has had any side effects, no stomach upsets, no sunlight issues, nothing. Therefore I will always use this medication for future travels.

After the monsoon I would suggest that West Bengal is not the only place to worry about. This map - http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/desti...laria-map.aspx - does show that the areas you are going to are a low risk, but a single Doxy pill per day will give you peace of mind and hardly costs much.

Many, many people take Lariam with no side effects whatsoever.

However, the potential side effects, are, in my unqualified opinion, so severe as to make it a non-starter. Wouldn't touch it with a proverbial barge pole. Especially as there are so many alternatives.

Malarone is the only way to go. If not possible there are two options. Take nothing, cover yourself in bug spray and hope for the best and if you get the big M take a cure.
If you really must take Lariam, One way to cure some of the side effects is to drink booze, it takes the edge off of the drug.
Years ago when in Africa, my wife who is not a big drinker was very bad with Lariam so would have a 10am bottle of lager.
Last time we took it was on a 3 month trip to India a decade ago. My wife could not drink because of other meds, so we returned to Europe after only 2 weeks.

***A number of mass killings/war crimes by military personnel(U.S./UK and NATO) have been attributed to the side effects of Lariam. In fact I understand the is a class action legal battle going on in the U.S. (been running for a good few years).

Side effects can last for 12 months or longer.

The NPR radio program This American Life had an interesting program
about an American studying in Hyderabad who "came to" in the local rail station suffering complete amnesia. It was attributed to Lariam.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radi...ntents-unknown
Lariam has been used as a defense in trials and a Canadian soldier was recently courtmartialed for his refusal to take it any more.
Another case.
http://www.lariaminfo.org/pdfs/UPI/U...minal_case.pdf
If I had taken it previously and suffered no ill effects then I would continue to use it but I'm not about to experiment with it now.

...and can go beyond depression and bad dreams, extending into the realms of serious mental illness.
Whoa! That sounds crazy, but that doesn't mean I don't believe it. Do have you link?
Some of us think that alcohol itself is one of the world's more dangerous drugs!

As to the alternatives, even old-fashioned Chloroquine and Proguanil, which you can buy over the counter at a British pharmacy seems to be rated still good for India. Chloroquine can be horrible on the stomach, though, so always take with food.

A one way trip for some. Some people say they enjoy the nightmares from Lariam! Life gives me too much of the real stuff. A friend recently described how she committed her child into a mental institution. Thats as much as a view into hell as I want to see..

12 months? Are you serious? I am actually getting really scared. Has anyone stopped taking it after a week? I'm sure I'll talk to my doctor but who knows if he knows anything about it. Maybe the side effects won't continue if I have only taken one. I wouldn't think it would last 12 months, maybe a few weeks. This shit is serious who the hell decided it was ok for people to take, I have heard nothing but bad things save a few people that had no problem. I am trying to remain calm, I cannot tell if it is the lariam or all in my head but I am feeling a lot of anxiety about it.

Good point indeed. But, I'll bet it fades in several days. Just as long as you haven't developed uncontrollable thoughts about decapitating your roommate because of commands from the devil..

I've taken Doxycycline successfully for so many years that I wouldn't dream of taking anything else.

If this was ME having nightmares from Larium, I'd stop taking it and go with something else.

Haha. No commands from the devil so I think I will be ok. How much damage could 1 pill do? I think I will calm down and ease my mind a little bit. I leave for India on Thursday, so excited!. I will look into Doxcycline or get it there. Thanks everyone, this site is wonderful.