Malaria

Tomi

Does anyone know if mefloquine (Lariam) is widely available in drugstores in India, and how much it costs there? I know drugs are much cheaper there, but want to make sure I can continue to get it there if I choose to start taking it here. I've taken lariam before and I prefer it to doxycycline. Malarone, the new wonder drug with fewer side effects, is not covered by some insurance companies in the US (like mine), because it's so expensive.

tanpopo

just my two rupees...

i started off taking chloroquine/proguanil and whilst there was no terrificly bad side efffects, I did get a bit sick and my hair was falling out more than usual. I stopped taking it...and felt tons better. Just covered up at night, used lots of mozzie repellent. I was travelling in the North (ladakh, himachal pradesh), so not that many mosquitoes up there anyway.

When I got to varanasi/rishikesh I got bitten loads, they have some pretty evil mozzies there in summer (it was raining, and hot).

I much prefer to take malaria medication along to use if I do get sick, rather than preventing it.

Incidentally, I took Doxy for a month in Vietnam, and was totally fine. I wanted to take it to India, but I couldnt get it in Japan and my parents had to send me some non-prescription chloroquine/proguanil through the post. if you do want to take malaria medication, I'd def. recommend Doxy (but take loads of sunscreen too).

harmony

i am going through all the threads about malaria pills because i am in the process of figuring out what to take- or even IF i should take them. i read several times that the medicines/pills can be taken when you feel the onset of malaria. is this accurate?

i am super healthy (vegan, very little alcohol, practice yoga daily) and i cringe at the thought of putting those chemicals in my body. especially as a i read all of the side effects. i am going to be there for 6 months though. i was told 6 months on doxicycline requires a follow up liver/kidney test when i get home because it could affect them?!? great! and i do not need psychotic episodes and vivid nightmarish dreams from larium. and the other one is way too expensive for me.

i know this topic has been posted repeatedly- but many of the posts are from a while back. does anyone have up to date info about this? i am really on a fence right now as to whether i should take them or not

my potential itinerary is land in delhi, go up to dharamsala until at least mid december- then head to calcutta stopping off at random places. then down to chennai- also stopping off to break the journey. then to the southern most tip of india, up to kearla, to mysore and then bangalore where i fly out.

thank you in advance for your advice/info/help

__________________
we are not human beings on a spiritual journey,
but spiritual beings on a human journey.

~stephen covey

timsha

I took malaria tablets for the first 10 days of my first eight month india trip before realising that there was no malaria in the region where i was and would be travelling...
On my second trip of 6 months i didnt take any!

In my opinion its better to check where the malaria is and at what time of year its present rather than filling yourselef with chemicals unneccessarily. It is possible to get accurate infos about where malaria is and where not. Just avoid the places which are malaria ridden.

Nick-H

Here's my bit...

I take homeopathic anti-malerials. While I'm at it I also take homeopathic vaccines for a few of the other things.

Effective? Who can say? Perhaps it just gives peace of mind, perhaps the fact
that I believe in it is enough to zap those nasties!

One other point; when you get that stomach upset alopathic pills are probably passing through your system too fast for much absorbtion.

goangoangone

A friend of mine has been to Goa about 8 times and never takes anything. I took Chloroquine & Proganuil for a 2 week trip without side effects. I don't get side effects from any drug though. Talking to locals there had been a recent outbreak which was brought in by building workers from another State.
I went to Boots the other day and asked for the prophylaxis. He wasn't very talkative , just said Chloroquine & Proganuil. I said what about doxy? He said that's OK as well. What about long term. Yes they're both OK.
Your choice.

williaam

I visited the travel clinic not too long ago to discuss my necessary vaccinations and what not. We extensively discussed the different options for anti-malaria pills and I decided to go with the Malarone. The doctor warned me that this was going to be very expensive as it is almost 5 bucks a pill and you have to take it everyday, he also mentioned that most insurance companies do not cover it. Well, to my suprise my insurance covered it completely, so before you rule out that option, I would talk to your insurance company first, that is if you are interested.

goangoangone

What insurance policy covers you? Is it your private health cover?

williaam

Yes, it is my private health insurance, it is Eckherd health services or something like that, they are just my prescription coverage, thank goodness for work benefits!

harmony

hey there nick (and everyone else reading this). i am interested in homeopathic remedies. what do you take?

my plans have altered a bit- and i am going to be going up to dharmasala initially and staying for at least 6 weeks but perhaps more. then i will most likely be flying down to chennai. i know dharmasala is safe in terms of malaria- so i don't need the medicine there. but i am flying into delhi and should be there for 2-3 days before i head up north. is delhi having a malaria outbreak right now? i know it's in the hotspots- but if anyone is there and could give me and up to the minute update i would appreciate it

Nick-H

Sorry to be so dumb on this, but I take what the homeopath gives me! And she has "doctor's handwriting" so it's hard to tell.

The malaria one is one once a week and one every day, like the allopathic one. She did me a special this time, one drop a day, which combines antimalaria, anti-mosquito and anti-itch if they do bite. I also had homeopathic typhid and cholera vaccines. Next time I might ask for TB, Menengitis and Rabies; I'm sure it will all be available! I think most of these remedies are made from the microbes themselves.

Remember that, whilst these are specifics, homeopaths do treat you rather than the symptoms, and an initial coinsultation is quite detailed and lasts an hour or more. I guess it would be a lot cheaper in India! My homeopath here in East London includes all the basic medicines but does charge a little extra for all these vaccines. I've heard of homeopaths that charge for everything they prescribe.

Try it in India, or try tp get a recommendation here.

wandering_kat

My friend, a doctor, suggested Coartem. It's a fairly new drug, herbal (but not homeopathic), but has been proven more effective than many of the usual drugs. It's not a prophylactic - you only take it when you feel symptoms coming on, and if you take it mistakenly (ie symptoms turn out to be flu or suchlike), there's no harm done because it's all herbal. A lot of expats in Africa use it as their drug of choice too, I've been told. I carried it but never had to use it, so can't comment on its effectiveness.

spacetraveller

After reading all the posts on malaria, I am getting a little worried. I am arriving midnight at Chennai airport in November (when the moss are supposed to out!), and I am taking none of the medications. Instead I have homeopathic remedies and insect repellent and will make sure that I have myself well covered. Will this be enough to protect myself of the dreaded malaria I wonder???????????

Nick-H

Kat,
that's very interesting. I'll be looking fore more info on it, but just a quick result some facts at http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/in_a...sheet_coartem/

Main disadvantage is that it would appear not to be effective againast the kinds of maleria that kill one quickly.

Herbal = safe is not a very safe assumtion to make. Tobacco is a herb! Lots of plants are poisonous!

Nick-H

Spacetraveller,

Chennai airport is airconditioned, and they don't allow visitors or mosquitos inside.

However, when you get outside the airport building, you will see all the people who are meeting familly, drivers collecting from hotels etc, and the mosquitos lined up.

If you see a mosquito holding a plaque with your name on it, run very fast!

Otherwise you'll probably be ok