malaria tablets?

Eve68

Yesterday I had my first round of Hep A & B,tet, and typhoid. The nurse also recommended malarone two days before leaving and throughout the stay. I thought someone had posted about not taking them because they didn't help but couldn't find what thread it was on. Any suggestions?

edwardseco

Since you feel that anonymous sources without medical degrees are so trustworthy I will offer my services. Instead you can take my own proprietory preventive for malaria. It also cures impotence at $10 a pill. Written across it in German is bayer aspiren. Just ignore that. By all reports I had it worked in Indian villages. Many happy customers. Malarone is probably very effective but my treatment offers more..

wonderwomanusa

Try searching for "malaria" and perhaps you'll find it.

Eve68

[quote=edwardseco]Since you feel that anonymous sources without medical degrees are so trustworthy I will offer my services.

What are you talking about? It was the nurse in charge of immunizations. SHe made a suggestion, doesn't mean I have to follow what she says. I came on this site because I wanted to know what people's experiences were, get advice. I've never been to India so I don't know. What's up with the cynicism?

goangoangone

I think malarone is the expensive one. Your government recommend Doxycycline.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...r/a682063.html

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Sama

I took malarone during both my month long trips. You start malarone 2 days before you leave and continue it for a week after you return (however after my second trip I did not do that).

What do you mean by "they didn't help"?? They still got malaria after taking malarone? That may be true because malaria medicine does not necessarily prevent malaria. and yes, malarone is the most expensive med for malaria (altho my health insurance paid for most of it.)

Larium is the one that sometimes gives people very weird dreams or sometimes psychosis according to some medical reports. Other people take it with no problems.

Doxycycline is cheap and the "safest" (relatively speaking) as it is an antibiotic. I chose not to take doxy because I was in India for a month, and you are supposed to continue taking it for a month after you return. I did not want to take antibiotics for 2 months (also did not want to deal with the possibility of a raging yeast infection with the doxy!)

I had no problems whatsoever with malarone. of course, I also know people who have gone to India with only a Hep A shot and no malaria meds at all and they're fine. Your choice.

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My India, 2005-2008

Eve68

Thanks, I'm leaning towards not taking it, they all sound pretty bad. Weird dreams? Geez, I wouldn't want that. It'll be cold or cool in December-January so there won't be that many mosquitoes. Sounds like the plagues sweep through after the rains. I was reading about that with the dengue fever in Delhi.

edwardseco

""I thought someone had posted about not taking them because they didn't help but couldn't find what thread it was on. Any suggestions?""

OP, I think I am talking about your post as quoted above. you sound like some of my students..

daresendez

I took Larium for about two months. I never had any psychosis problems, weird dreams? maybe, but then again I always have wierd dreams. It's an easy treatment though, one pill each week. Easier than taking a pill daily. Who knows, you might get wierd dreams (or really nice and vivd ones! those are always fun).

Nick-H

Sounds pretty bad? No... most of these things have few or no side effects, and only one has alleged psychological side effects (I wouldn't touch that one).

Before you make this decision so lightly, I suggest you research the effects of malaria: it's worse than pretty bad.

We've done the 'will where I'm going be too hot/cold/wet/dry for mossies' one here quite recently and the answer is: there will be mosquitoes. Everywhere. All year. Unless you are going up a mountain.

You need to try to protect yourself against mosquito bites anyway, because of the other diseases they carry (and the fact they itch, can be painful even, can become infected when scratched, etc etc).

Then there's all the people who 'didn't catch malaria because...'. They didn't catch malaria because they didn't catch malaria, whether they got bitten or not. Don't listen to pet theories.

Many people come here without taking the stuff. I forget about it for long periods. It is entirely your decision, but please do not take it lightly: malaria can kill, it can affect the rest of your life.

I have to echo... proper medical advise is better than an internet forum! We are not doctors.

Oh, and making light of this subject (on top of the fact that the questions have been asked and answered so many times) is likely to result in some cynical responses: they are just meant to make you think again. Don't take offence!

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dzibead

I second Nick. Malaria isn't something you want to take lightly. I've taken both Malarone and doxycycline with no adverse side effects whatsoever (except the adverse side effect on my pocketbook from the Malarone, which is pricey). Apart from the cost of the Malarone, I'm not sure what "sounds pretty bad" about them, especially for a relatively short stay in India.

herfimo

I've always taken Paludrine (Proguanil) (One tablet once a day) and Avlocclor (Choloroquine Phosphate) (One tablet once a week) whenever I've gone to India. I don't know if it's thought of as being very old fashioned these days what with antibiotics but I agree with yogagal60510 that I'd rather not take antibiotics for a really long time however, I'm not a doctor. I've never heard anyone have any problems with Paludrine and Avloclor but they do taste horrid, especially the once a week one, so a packet of boiled sweets for afterwards is crucial! Their packaging is bulky so I generally decant them all out of their packets into a pill pot.

Sama

It's Eve68's personal choice. We're all responsible for our own healthcare decisions. There's plenty of personal information on Indiamike about peoples' experiences with all types of malaria meds.

But before posting questions here prospective India travelers should check out the CDC and WHO and travel medicine websites for for much more complete information.

Eve68

I checked on the US Dept of Health site and it does emphasize the seriousness of malaria is S Asia. It also says that chloroquine is not effective. I'll talk to my doctor about it and get the best (non-chloroquine) option plus take a mosquito repellent. Thanks for all the advise.

Nick-H

Good choice of action.

If it was an easy decision, there wouldn't be so many threads here on the topic....