possible to buy malaria tablets in india?

zoltan

Milkyway,
There are five tablets that I am aware of that can be used as prophylaxis for malaria:
- malarone (not available in India
- doxycycline (widely available & cheap - some side effects)
- larium (some people develop severe side effects)
- chloroquine - some forms of malaria are becoming immune to this tablet
- paludrine - used in combination with chloroquine (once a day) but as above with chloroquine, not always effective.

As no two fingers are the same (old Indian saying), so too, no two peoples physiology is the same.

If you are concerned about the side-effects of doxy (which I take without any noticeable side-effects), then I strongly suggest you speak with your GP to get the best possible advice on what to take.

Another way to look at this is that $5 per day is quite high but, if you are in a malaria prevalent region and, you don't develop the fatal version, then it's money well spent. Sure it could also be argued that you may not have been bitten but there's no way to tell one way or the other (unless you develop malaria).

Cheers
Zoltan

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Nick-H

It has no purposely included repellent, but may have a very, very slight effect. Definitely not worth using as a repellent. The effect of repellents is well researched, and a little googling will take you to tables of relative effectiveness --- but, ultimately, this is a personal thing. Some people will still attract mosquitoes even if covered in 100% DEET, some won't attract them even with nothing, and it has been said that the best thing to do is to travel with someone they like better than you!

Please note that there is another category: those who think they never get bitten, but do. They are unaware of the bites because they do not have an allergic reaction to them; no swelling, no redness, no itching. Of course, these people can still catch the diseases the mossies carry.

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Aishah

That Avon product sounds as good as my eat marmite/vegemite theory! Lately I've noticed a the odd bite in spite of my daily intake! Good point re not noticing a bite, Nick - I think I may be one of these people, and I've had malaria four times.

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

theyyamdancer

I didn't know that you could be bitten and not notice it! When I first visited the Mediterranean in the 1970s and first came into contact with mosquitoes I received something like fifty bites overnight and they all swelled up and drove me crazy. Now, after years of living next to the Mediterranean and in close proximity with them (bearing in mind these ones are not the malaria-carriers, thank goodness!) I no longer have an allergic reaction to a bite. In two trips to India I told myself - oh, great, I didn't get bitten because of the lotion I used to repel mosquitoes. Now, I am having second thoughts! Very interesting indeed. Perhaps the only really safe way is long sleeves/long trousers. But they always seem to sneak in at the ankles, don't they? I shall be taking Malarone for sure on my next trip (to the North-East) in 2009.

Nick-H

The ankles, yes... mine are like sieves!

Aishah

And they also bite through your socks! Spray or roll on mozzie repellent there as well.

suiko

I imagine Paludrine can be bought easily in India too?

edwardseco

Have seen a report that it is available at some pharmacies in big cities (Delhi). Don't know..

suiko

So not easy? In that case it isn't possible to get the daily pill for the daily/weekly combo? I shall take Lariam, but my gf is not so keen.

rootsrockreggae

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering whether it's possible to get anti malarial pills in Chennai and for how much? Any info would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Moderator Note:

Merged your post into this ongoing discussion.

Unlikely that Chennai will be particularly different
to any other city.

diane123

Hello all-I've just called the vaccine dept and made an appointment.They said we were to have the vaccination for malaria. Well I was under the impresion that that didn't exist and it's tablets that you have to take am I mistaken?Also if I didn't take the tablets and caught malaria can it be easily cured or is it much more complicated than that? thanks for any opinions.

Nick-H

Oh, Diane... welcome to reading 4,923,136 posts in 63,538 threads, including 5,268 where member fought to the death over this subject.

Well, ok... I made up the numbers.

And the deaths.

But this thread is just one of many, and there is quite a bit of controversy as well as quite a lot of information --- so have a browse and search

briefly: if a vaccine for malaria is ever discovered (they are working on it) it would be world-wide front-page news. I think it kills about a million people a year (or did I make that up too? It is certainly a very, very serious disease, world-wide).

Your understanding is correct. They may have been been using imprecise language, and I hope you get better information when you go there!

It is more complicated; there is a strain of malaria that affects the brain, and that can kill kill in a few days. However, yes, malaria is curable, but don't think it is a case of taking a few pills and staying on the road. It is a very unpleasant and serious disease, and the drugs they use to treat it can also make you feel even worse.

Do research our malaria threads, so that you go to the clinic informed about the various anti-malarials and their various side effects.

diane123

Well you see I didn't want to be left out so I added my bit.
You are funny I had a good laugh.

suiko

Is Paludrine easily available in India?

edwardseco

I just answered this above! The easy things are Doxycycline and Mefloquin (Larium) and Chloroquine. I do not recommend Larium. Chloroquine is of less effectiveness in some parts like the North East. Zoltan and Nick have done an excellent job of covering a complex area. Be an informed consumer and have the best of travels..