i am currently working in cape town before a trip to namibia, botswana, zimbabwe, and back to south africa again. i am eager to get advice on malaria prophylaxis for these regions. the doctor i saw here knew very little (and i can't afford to get too many second opinions), so i went to the british airways travel clinic. there i was recommended to take doxycycline. in all the literature (including the MASTA website which supposedly supplies info to the BA travel clinics), it says that doxocycline should only be taken by people who can't take mefloquin. why? it's side effects don't sounds nearly as serious as mefloquin - is it not as effective? or is it just that it can't be good to take an antibiotic for a long period? nobody seems to mention doxycycline - does anyone know anything useful about it?
<CBEATTY>
Posted
When I was in Thailand on the Burma border, an expat doctor suggested that I take my chances and stop taking mefloquin because of its possible side effects, which are potentially worse than the disease it prevents. He told me that malaria is easier to cure than to prevent.
<overlander>
Posted
Same issues confronted me. I ended up using Larium and then quitting it becasue I hallucinated (not a bad side affect ;-> ). Nicky McClean has a very in depth article on Boots about this very subject:
I'm taking doxycycline everyday for the 180 days I'm gone to africa then another 180 days if i live to see Thailand and malaysia. I have heard there are some nasty side effects with some pills but the one I'm on is pretty safe by canadian standards.
Jared {the nomad} Sasek
Posts: 39 | Location: homeless | Registered: 13 April 2002
