BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi there all, I am going to Malaysia for 3 weeks in July and I am wondering whether or not to take malaria pills? We will do some treking in jungle on Borneo as well. I'd rather avoid taking them because of the side effects. I would like to know what other people have done in these areas? Thanks.

Didn't bother, you will be advised to though

Now, let me just start off by saying that you should never ever base your decisions regarding medical matters only on something you read on the Internet. Do seek professional advice as well.

That said, I think you should stay off the pills. Why? Well, one reason is because you're just going to be off for 3 weeks. That means you should be able to take precautions against being bitten by many mosquitos in the first place, and if you're unlucky and get it, it's most likely that you'll be back home before the malaria strikes, and you'll be well taken care of.

Maybe even more importantly, and many don't know this, the pills many tourists take to avoid malaria contain the same stuff that can also be used inexpensively to CURE malaria if you get it. And the more people who take it to avoid malaria, the sooner new malaria strains immune to the stuff will develop. This kills the locals in malaria-prone areas, since they are bound to be infected by malaria sooner or later, and depend on there being a cheap cure when that happens.

Also, there are the side effects, and the fact that if you take the pills and still get malaria (how likely that is depends on what medicine you're on), you can NOT use pills to cure it, but will have to go through a lengthy treatment that will be extremely hard on your body to cure it.

That's the short version. A longer, and more entertaining version can be found at
http://bjornfree.blogspot.com/2008/03/relating-to-malaria.html

You'll be fine either way. But will your conscience... ?

Bjørn

I'm going to South East Asia and I'm not bothering with Malaria pills! My Aunty is a long haul air hostess for British airways, and their medical team say that prevention is better than taking the pills. i.e use repellent with high deet content (especially on ankles and wrists), if you can stay in air conditioned rooms do so, if you do any trekking wear long sleaved shirts and long trousers!

Hi

I have taken Malarone a couple of times. They are very expensive but I have not experienced any side effects so far. But I hear that the cheaper Lariam can have side effects.

Personnally, I've had a lot of problems with Lariam, but none whatsoever with Malarone.

However, a friend of mine has taken Lariam many many times without having sideffects. So really, everything is different from one person to the next.

If you can afford it, try one now, a few months before you go. That's what I did on my doctor's suggestion after my Lariam fiasco...
Good luck!

malarone is incredibly expensive in america...if you are worried about side effects look in to Doxy...it's not made for malaria propholaxis but kind of works the same way as it is an antibiotic and typically very inexpensive

Hey hey,

I was in Asia for 13 months and did not take Malaria pills. The few people that I met who were taking Malaria meds spoke of some whacky side effects. You will be advised to take the meds by your doctor but speaking from experience/my own opinion, I don't think that they are necessary.

Thanks very much for your help :-)

How much are these malaria pills?

Also, could they be purchased in Singapore for less?