I am going to SE Asia in Jan. and I need to decide on a Malaria pill. Do you have any info on the good ones and bad ones? I don't really want to take one a day. I would rather take one weekly. I heard some have very bad side effects, I don't want to stay out of the sun because of sun sensitivity...
Thanks for the help!
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away." -Anonymous
Posts: 21 | Location: Pyeongchon, South Korea...originally from Chicago Ridge, IL | Registered: 04 November 2004
Where are you going in Southeast Asia? There are some places (like most of Thailand and peninsular Malaysia) that don't have malaria. If you're sure you need malaria pills then go see a good travel doctor – one who knows what she's doing and can advise you properly based on your needs and personal health history.
I just went through this in planning my own trip to SEA in January (to malarial zones) and it's a tough decision. There are significant problems with each drug. The only once a week pill is Lariam/Mefloquine and it doesn't work in all areas of SEA. Lariam also makes a small minority of people psychotic (yet it's what I'm taking). Doxycycline and Malarone are the other big malaria drugs and they are taken every day. Doxy's probably the most common one people take in SEA but it causes a small minority of people to be sun-sensitive, and a few people - like me - are allergic to it. Malarone appears to have very few side effects but is pretty expensive given you have to take it every day. It's also not sold anywhere in SEA except Singapore.
It's a personal choice best made with professional advice. Good luck and have a great trip!
i heard one of them usually gives you thrush. aaaaah! no thanks. but that could be bollocks. a friend was telling me. i'd like to think they weren't making it up so put me in my place if im wrong.
Posts: 102 | Location: Born Tas, live QLD | Registered: 07 October 2004
Hi, thanks a lot for all your advice. I am giong to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Which countries should I make sure to take the malaria pills? I was going ot take them the whole time just to be safe. Another problem is that I live in Korea at the moment and it's hard to get a good, English-speaking travel clinic to help me. I have an appointment with one, but I'm not sure how helpful they will be in English. The descriptions of the drugs will help me a lot in order to understand the doctors. Thanks again for your help.
PS...if anyone knows a good clinic in Seoul, S. Korea, that would be a great help!
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away." -Anonymous
Posts: 21 | Location: Pyeongchon, South Korea...originally from Chicago Ridge, IL | Registered: 04 November 2004
hey i hust went and bought my malaria pills there. Im going to India for 2 months and i need protection. but im also going to be in Thailand and malaysia for about a month... but the guy who sold me my pills said i would only need them for India... I trust him... but im still a bit worried... do you think i'll be ok in thailand (Bangkok) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) without the pills? thanks
I've taken Malarials on numerous trips. Lariam sucks -- psychological effects and sleep disorders are fairly common. Doxy's sun sensitivity can overwhelm sunscreen. Melarone may be expensive but it works without the complications -- and is therefore worth the added cost to me. As for your itinerary: Given the variety of stops you'll be making, you'd better get something, otherwise you might be playing Russian roulette with your health.
Posts: 5 | Location: Arlington, Virginia USA | Registered: 21 July 2004
Have been talking to a couple of friends who have been to thailand, both said not to take the pills whilst you were there unless your starting to get symptoms of milaria, i have no idea what to do, have to talk to my doc too as i am allergic to doxy!! but they do make you burn really easily! so lots of sun cream.
never go against your gut feeling its usually right!!
Posts: 37 | Location: manchester right now, but not for long | Registered: 27 November 2004
I did the Lariam thing on a trip to Africa. I experienced some side-effects. I remember a couple killer headaches.....and some quite bizarre nightmares, but I don't recall any wildly psychotic episodes.
Well, there was that one night out in the bush....right....(heading over to the confessions thread )
Posts: 4964 | Location: Michoacán | Registered: 27 May 2004
Some of my lariam dreams were pretty cool. I don't remember any frightening ones, they were just very vivid. I was a little more anxious than normal while I was on lariam, but it's hard to tell if that was the drug or the travel circumstances.
(yet it's what I'm taking). Doxycycline and Malarone are the other big malaria drugs and they are taken every day. Doxy's probably the most common one people take in SEA but it causes a small minority of people to be sun-sensitive, and a few people - like me - are allergic to it. Malarone appears to have very few side effects but is pretty expensive given you have to take it every day. It's also not sold anywhere in SEA except Singapore. 
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