Malaria Tablets

[silver_fox]

Hi,

Sorry to ask so many questions, but I've never been outside of Europe & the US so I don't really have a clue!!

We were given our Malaria Tablets today (Chloroquine & Proguanil) to start taking on Tues, however a few people have told me about the nasty side effects - as we are going to a 'Low Risk' area (Chennai) is it more adviseable to not take the tablets at all or to take them and to only stop if problems occur?

A xXx

[Kenilworth]

the malaria tablets are prescribed to you early, usually a week before you go to check whether you are allergic to them or not. I was OK the 1st time but the next time my hair started falling out so I had to have something else. Nevertheless, you need something to keep the mozzies off. Take some antihistamine tablets with you. You may still be bitten and you may have a reaction because the bugs are different to the ones you are used to. Put sterotabs or puritabs in any bottled water. Only eat fruit that you can peel. keep off the milk. It may not be cows milk and your stomach may not ahve the enzymes to cope resulting in your having 'food poisoning' type symptoms.

Enjoy it. My great grandfather went there in 1870 and he survived otherwise you would not have had this reply.

[Kenilworth]

Sorry, whilst I am giving advice about India-get an encashment certificate when you get money at the exchange in India so that if you have any money left over at the end you can exchange it back. Secondly, be very careful about the money from the bank/exchange that you accept. Sellotaped notes, torn notes are NOT acceptable but here's the amazing thing holes through the water mark are ok!
They staple the notes together through the water mark and inevitably a hole develops eventually. �100 of rupees is about an inch thick (2.5 cms).It's, also, worth asking for them to remove the staple as they are large

[Dee Sa]

Firstly these tablets may give you diarrohea, did to our friends we advised to stop taking them, they did and so did the "runs", make yourown mind up after taking for a few days. I have been going to India for over 20 years and never have taken them, its usually cautious first time travellers, but there is nothing wrong in being cautious.
Re money, we were refused exchange on some notes in Poona because there was writing/ numbers written in ball pen on them and they only wanted clean notes in a branch of Thomas Cook [ who incidently really screw you on the exchange rates].
have a good trip.

[Dee Sa]

forgot to say take tummy tablets[anti diaorrhea] and roll on mosquito repellent from Boots [their brand is good]. an "afterbite" to take out the sting and ask your hotel for mosquito coil which you burn whilst out in the evening, far more efficient than the plug in ones, and travel kettle and own teabags is a must.