Poll: Malaria Meds

machadinha

That's what I thought too but I wasn't sure about the "before." I'm pretty sure about the "after" though, depending on your medicines no doubt.

Yes well <cough> so was I.

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

mph

According to swedish news at least 2 swedes, 1 dane and 2 germans has gotten infected by malaria in Goa during the last month. All swedes that have been in Goa recently and gets fevery when back in Sweden are told to report to hospital for further check up. Im heading to Goa on monday for a 2 months stay and i really dont fancy to take medication for that long, or is that being stupid??
http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=22620&a=733131 &lid=is_search527895&lpos=0&qu eryArt527895=malaria+goa&doneS earch=true&sd=47244&from=siteS earch&pageArt527895=0
Link for those of u that understand swedish

goangoangone

You've answered your own question. You know the risk.

__________________
GoanGoan......here

mph

So are u taking any meds in your beach shack or are u stupid like im gonna be ?

goangoangone

I've been here over 2 years, so it's a slightly different problem. I did take doxy 2 monsoons ago. I think if there was a bad outbreak I'd consider taking it again. Maybe too late then.

Nick-H

'for that long' --- two months. eight weeks. Not long at all.

I'm horrified to hear that five people visiting one small area in just one month have been infected. Makes it sound pretty high risk to me!

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

laurel

I was unaware of the possible side effects of Lariam until tonight (after reading the "Lariam may cause serious mental problems in some patients" section of the Medication Guide.

Now I'm having serious second thoughts about taking it and we leave tomorrow. Can anyone who had issues with lariam go over what they experienced? I'm not sure if it's worth the risk...

Thanks!

mph

I guess i play it safe and buy some doxy in mumbai b4 i head down to Goa. I found out more about the recent malaria cases and two of the them probably got infected at Jog Falls, the other three cases i dont know.

Nick-H

I wouldn't even consider taking Larium.

But I don't have anything to back that up. Google, I guess...

laurel

I've googled lariam and found more than a few horrible stories and dire warnings. One of the potential side effects listed on the label is "suicidal thoughts" which is something that I have never seen on a drug label before and don't care to take chances with.

Can I get something else while in Delhi without a prescription?

SteamBuff

Your Doctor/Nurse should have discussed all the side-effects with you before prescribing it ... I know that mine did.

By the way all the Anti-Maleria tablets have side affects ... depends on you and what you are prepared to put with ... i.e. hair loss, becoming sensitive to the sun, bowel problems, being sick etc

machadinha

<cross-posted>

I'd go with your doctor's advice really. Lariam is prescribed for certain areas, these prophylaxes aren't interchangable just like that.

These labels are legally required to list all imaginable side-effects depending where you're at so it doesn't mean much in itself, maybe it lists them by percentual occurrence? They do where I live. But Lariam is known to cause depression in some yes (to put this in perspective: many anti-depressants do too), problems with eyesight too I think. Mostly in case of extended use I believe, I don't know how long you'll be going for. And again, only in some. This was a reason for me not to take it, then again dying from malaria isn't rumored to be much fun either. Avoid getting bitten, but that's not necessarily the responsible advice.

Since you're leaving today or thereabouts I'd stick with your planned course. Keep an eye on adverse side effects and quit and/or preferably seek local medical advice should they occur. Apparently many users get by fine on it. I think it's not advised for long-term use but this is just off the top of my head and anyway your doctor should have considered this.

Anyway your medic should know better than some stranger on a board like me. I think the choice is really: take nothing, or if you do, go by what advice your own professional gave you.

Nick-H

There are side-effects and side-effects.

Larium is on my not-to-be-even-considered list. If a doctor recommended it I'd ask for something else.

pennylessinindia

As a medical person and someone who was off their head after one dose of Larium I would never go near it again.

Having said that I feel strongly that this site is not the place to give or take medical consultations. May be of use to see the various thoughts but it is not right that we advice each other not knowing an individuals medical history.

I believe that tourists on a short trip under a year should consult a Dr who has acess to tropical med info in their own country and follow that. And remember to tell any dr on your return and for a year after that you have been to india etc

Those of us who live long term should follow the advice of the local dr. At the present I do not take any meds _ I did for the first year. Now I know that Malaria is something that can be tested for here and quickly and is routinely tested if you present with the symptoms (not always so In europe etc )
I am in a big city and can get medical help quickly. Should I move to a rural area etc I would seek advice and follow that.

I made my choices and that is for me not for anyone else!!

I do use odomos all the time and no doubt one day someone will tell me that is bad for me!!! I have a litttle mosi flying as I am writing this!!

camelgirl

I always take Larium. Just finished 6 weeks of it. Never had a problem. Not even a vivid dream.

There is a huge controversy about Larium. Particularly between physicians in the U.S. (good) and UK (terrible). And there are lots of scary stories....just like there are for ANY drug you google.

My understanding is that if you've ever been diagnosed with any mental problems, you should never take it. There are now so many people so terrified of taking it, that if you gave them a placebo they'd think they were going to kill themselves or have a mental breakdown after they took a placebo. I'm not joking!

As previously mentioned, if you read all the side effects of almost EVERY medication, there are horrific side effects. I've been told that pharmeceutical companies list every possible side effect so you can't sue them! The odds are still quite tiny, even for Larium. I'm sticking with it.

Just a note about why doctors recommend taking the malaria med one week BEFORE you leave home. Only to make sure you can tolerate it. If not, you have time to find you can tolerate. (Since I know I can tolerate Larium, I don't start until I arrive in India).