Malaria Tablets - bad reactions

[melv]

Has anyone out there had a bad reaction with Malaria tablets. A lot of people (myself included) are having to go out to India to train our "offshoring partners", and so far 1 person has had a really bad reaction to the Malaria tablets in the week before he goes. Hallucinations and such like. The doctor has advised him to stop taking the tablets and risk going out to India without taking them.

Ive been previously to India and taken Malaria tablets, but had no reaction at all. Has anyone else had a bad reaction? How common/rare is it?!

[Chillum]

My mother suffered a very bad reaction to Lariam. Re-occuring hellish hallucinations & panic attacks, it regularly flared up for a long time (3 years maybe), I don't think she's had one for a couple of years now, so hopefully it's stopped.

[beamer]

If your Doc's giving you Larium to take I suggest you switch doctors asap. not sure what the bad reaction ratio's are but it's not worth risking your long term mental health when there are so many alternatives now available.

[Bob A Job]

most malaria tablets send your imagination into overdrive. Nightmares, even hallucinations are quite common. most people this lasts one or two days only though.

[jno]

Lariam can cause problems. Malarone is good, but not available on the NHS; you'd have to go to one of those travel health clinics, and it costs. I take them, though, because I think it's worth it (malaria's no fun).

[morg_monster]

Beamer you suggestion to change doctors is a bit strong, he is only following NHS guidelines.  Lariam is generally only a risk to mental health if the person has had previous psychiatric problems; although the hallucinations, especially at night, can occur in anyone - though they are disturbing they only last while you are taking Lariam.

According to www.traveldoctor.co.uk, the malaria in India is chloroquine resistant, which leaves Lariam, doxycycline and Malarone.  Doxycycline can make you photosensitive (ie more prone to sunburn), malarone is relatively side-effect free.  The other good thing about malarone is that you only have to start taking it 2 days before travel.  It may be possible to buy Malarone much cheaper once you are in India, if you are going to be staying in a big city for a while where there is little risk.  I did this when visiting Thailand (but then there was a Boots on the Khao San rd which made things easier!)

[KatieB28]

Myself and friends took Doxycycline in Africa for 2 months and none of us had side effects at all. The listed side effects are physical, and not mental like Larium. Also, only 1 in 10 people will experience photo sensitivity - just be careful once you start taking - use high factor sunscreen until you know whether it will affect you in this way or not. Hope this helps....