sick of anti-malarials.

GoanCanuck · Aug 9th, 2005, 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by vistet

It is also a tetracycline derivative - which means you should avoid it if u plan to go to Ladakh or any silmilar altitudes because of the phototoxic reaction u can get.

Thanks for the tip. I was not aware of this particular reaction.

Nick-H · Aug 9th, 2005, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by sticky

Hey Nick, have you found any concrete info on where these places are? I have been looking for a while, but havent found anything much. I have read a few anicdotal reports (worse in monsoon etc) but thats all.

My experience of Chennai so far is that high summer is just too hot for the mossies (about the only advantage...). Otherwise I followed the advice of my local doc on what to take. Now I really am about to be spending almost all my time there I guess I should revist the whole topic of immunisations etc

Susan · Aug 9th, 2005, 09:28

Were you attractive to mosquitos?

Personally, I am very tasty to mosquitos and received lots of bites, therefore will finish my mefloquine.

daveashcroftuk · Aug 9th, 2005, 17:28

The "phototoxic" reaction you are referring to is in fact heightened photo-sensitivity in roughly 13% of patients.....ie you are more sensitive to sun-burn. This can be overcome by wearing high factor sunscreen/sunblock.......and it shouldnt be a reason not to take doxycycline as a malaria prophylactic.

Nick-H · Aug 9th, 2005, 17:34

Good point: did you actually get bitten by any mossies? If you can be sure that you didn't (lucky, rare, person...) then don't bother with any more drugs.

alabamagoa · Aug 9th, 2005, 17:43

Prevention is cheaper than cure!!!!! when we moved to india we began taking all the precautions!! but my husband still managed to get falsipurum which is the bad malaria when he got to the hospital 6 days after feeling unwell flu he said he was given 5 hours to live!!!! and at the end of his treatment 400quid bill, thats why inusurance and meds or preventative creams are a must!!!! but however we were told by a malaria specialist that if you live here all the time malaria tablets are not affective!!!!!

vistet · Aug 9th, 2005, 17:46

I had the reaction myself , and it was distinctly different from sunburn. Wearing
hat, high protection factor sunblock and longsleeved shirt did not protect me.
Later I had a acute allegic reaction to a food ingredient for the first time , requiring a shot of intravenous anti-inflammatory drug to ensure free airway. It was interpreted as a crossallergic reaction to you-know-what.

Avoiding doxy in this specific case is of course no argument for avoiding anti-malarials, just make a better informed decision with yor doc.

vistet · Aug 9th, 2005, 18:31

Some interesting stuff re phototoxic reactions can be found in this article, written by a professor of pharmacology.

Quote from Scientific American :

"Phototoxic reactions, however, manifest as a more severe burn reaction and may arise within a few hours after the drug is taken. They usually involve a higher drug dosage than photoallergic reactions do. In these cases, destabilization of the drug structure results in an accumulation of free radicals and localized cell damage. This effect is more extensive than the superficial photoallergic reaction and leads to cell damage at multiple levels of the dermis and epidermis. People complain of a hot sensation in the affected area and often display redness. In some, this symptom progresses to blistering or peeling. With prolonged use of the drug, some people actually develop skin thickening and skin darkening or a loss of pigment in the area.

Treatment of photoallergic or phototoxic reactions should include stopping the drug and avoiding exposure to direct sunlight.. "

daveashcroftuk · Aug 9th, 2005, 18:35

Well, ive just popped the first of my doxycycline 100mg tablets........arriving in Delhi on Thursday morning. Hopefully ill be one of the lucky 85%. If not, ill post pictures of the reaction.

comet · Aug 10th, 2005, 01:04

I seem to recall that ensuring the doxcycline you are taking is within its expiring date, especially if buying in India, is very important as not alone will it probably not stop you getting malaria but it apparently can be quite toxic.

jennifericous · Aug 10th, 2005, 01:51

ive been kinda taking my anti-malarials. it sucks. i keep forgetting.
i didnt get bitten too often. but its better to be safe than sorry.
just a few points,
avlocar alone once a week does not give sufficient malaria protection, so its usually prescribed with paulidrine, which you have to take 2 of everyday. its a real pain.
my boyfriend took doxycyline, and i guess they were better, because they didnt have that awful taste mine had. and you only have to take them once a day. Also ladies, doxycycline interferes with some brands of the birth control pill.

Aug 9th, 2005, 09:28	#18
Susan Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: United States Posts: 3	delicious? Were you attractive to mosquitos? Personally, I am very tasty to mosquitos and received lots of bites, therefore will finish my mefloquine.

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Aug 9th, 2005, 17:28	#19
daveashcroftuk Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 28	The "phototoxic" reaction you are referring to is in fact heightened photo-sensitivity in roughly 13% of patients.....ie you are more sensitive to sun-burn. This can be overcome by wearing high factor sunscreen/sunblock.......and it shouldnt be a reason not to take doxycycline as a malaria prophylactic.

Aug 9th, 2005, 17:34	#20
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	Good point: did you actually get bitten by any mossies? If you can be sure that you didn't (lucky, rare, person...) then don't bother with any more drugs.

Aug 9th, 2005, 17:43	#21
alabamagoa Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: goa Posts: 121	Prevention is cheaper than cure!!!!! when we moved to india we began taking all the precautions!! but my husband still managed to get falsipurum which is the bad malaria when he got to the hospital 6 days after feeling unwell flu he said he was given 5 hours to live!!!! and at the end of his treatment 400quid bill, thats why inusurance and meds or preventative creams are a must!!!! but however we were told by a malaria specialist that if you live here all the time malaria tablets are not affective!!!!!

Aug 9th, 2005, 17:46	#22
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,821	I had the reaction myself , and it was distinctly different from sunburn. Wearing hat, high protection factor sunblock and longsleeved shirt did not protect me. Later I had a acute allegic reaction to a food ingredient for the first time , requiring a shot of intravenous anti-inflammatory drug to ensure free airway. It was interpreted as a crossallergic reaction to you-know-what. Avoiding doxy in this specific case is of course no argument for avoiding anti-malarials, just make a better informed decision with yor doc.

Aug 9th, 2005, 18:31	#23
vistet Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Umeå , Sweden Posts: 1,821	Some interesting stuff re phototoxic reactions can be found in this article, written by a professor of pharmacology. Quote from Scientific American : "Phototoxic reactions, however, manifest as a more severe burn reaction and may arise within a few hours after the drug is taken. They usually involve a higher drug dosage than photoallergic reactions do. In these cases, destabilization of the drug structure results in an accumulation of free radicals and localized cell damage. This effect is more extensive than the superficial photoallergic reaction and leads to cell damage at multiple levels of the dermis and epidermis. People complain of a hot sensation in the affected area and often display redness. In some, this symptom progresses to blistering or peeling. With prolonged use of the drug, some people actually develop skin thickening and skin darkening or a loss of pigment in the area. Treatment of photoallergic or phototoxic reactions should include stopping the drug and avoiding exposure to direct sunlight.. "

Aug 9th, 2005, 18:35	#24
daveashcroftuk Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 28	Well, ive just popped the first of my doxycycline 100mg tablets........arriving in Delhi on Thursday morning. Hopefully ill be one of the lucky 85%. If not, ill post pictures of the reaction.

Aug 10th, 2005, 01:04	#25
comet Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere... Posts: 61	I seem to recall that ensuring the doxcycline you are taking is within its expiring date, especially if buying in India, is very important as not alone will it probably not stop you getting malaria but it apparently can be quite toxic.

Aug 10th, 2005, 01:51	#26
jennifericous Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: IRELAND Posts: 190	ive been kinda taking my anti-malarials. it sucks. i keep forgetting. i didnt get bitten too often. but its better to be safe than sorry. just a few points, avlocar alone once a week does not give sufficient malaria protection, so its usually prescribed with paulidrine, which you have to take 2 of everyday. its a real pain. my boyfriend took doxycyline, and i guess they were better, because they didnt have that awful taste mine had. and you only have to take them once a day. Also ladies, doxycycline interferes with some brands of the birth control pill.

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