Malarone anti malaria tablets

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Hi Graham,

I'm precisely 4 weeks back from India and stopped taking the tablets on Tuesday (slightly early) as it happens.

What confuses me a little, without going into a net search, is the word "Malarone"? Is that an ingredient? It sounds more like a brand name?

I simply knew that there are two types of things one is advised to protect oneself with as you no doubt know: (1) chloroquine phosphate, and (2) proguanil hydrochloride. One of these you take weekly and one daily. I have read there are other things now out but from my reading they were said to be largely untested and the usefulness not agreed upon. Those are the two main things. Chloraquine weekly and proguanil daily. Starting a week before going, and it's a MUST to continue for a month afterward. You'll know that.

Anyway, at Boots I found 7-week supplies I think at £17.95. At any rate, I know three boxes came to under £60, for 21 weeks.

Is Malarone something quite different?

Edit to add: You had me intrigued so I did look it up. OK so it's a brand name, and all I see that's different about it is that you start 2 days before a trip and continue only 7 days after?

You could consider just getting Boots' own brand which are the £17.95 for 7 weeks tablets (both types together in a box). Or, since I sometimes need such things, I'd be interested in if there's a reason you'd really prefer Malarone? (In my net search I did see websites offering it "cheap" BTW.)

Venetian

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

hi graham,

i didnt know yellow fever was needed for kenya... thats where you're going? but maybe you are flitting over to tanzania on safari?

anyway, as for malaria... who has suggested malarone? i know they are the "wonder" malaria tabs, having few side affects etc but yes, you can only get them private and at about 2 quid a pop! also, do you know if they are suitable for the area you are travelling to? for example, i went to sri lanka last year and malarone were down as ineffective to the malaria strain in that area, so i got the tablets V got, it sounds like. come in handy travel packs of 7 strips (for a normal 2 week stay, you have to take for 7 weeks <yawn!>).

anyway, there are 2 types in the pack, one is to be taken once a week, the rest every day. none of us had any side effects so i'd reccommend them.

from what i gather, doctors tend not to prescribe for malaria tablets now as so many are available over the counter. oh, when i went to kenya, we got doxycycline, an anti biotic as it happens. the one you want to avoid is larium - that is the one that has or can have nasty side effects.

as for malarone... my mate got them in tesco and said they were the cheapest he'd found, but that may have changed.

have a fab time!

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

A quick note on side-effects. Regarding the normal Boots packs Rosie describes above.

I did get all kinds of warnings (including here on HP and from friends who didn't take tablets at all). In 15 weeks of taking them I only had side-effects twice I'm pretty sure. Each time it was nausea lasting about an hour, an hour or less after taking them. No big deal really. The other 14 weeks and 5 days I was fine. (You simply empty your stomach, to be graphic, and then all's OK.) And on previous trips I didn't even get that.

V

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Ah! By coincidence I just came across the Travel Pack my GP surgery gave me. I see Malarone is one of five possible things to take. There's too much information on it to type in here, but in sumary from what I can see -

1. It's handy as you take one a day, and not much before or after the trip.

2. There are a LOT of side-effects listed! Though I don't know how common they are. I can list them more if anyone's interested.

3. "Approximate cost is £22 a week" - official from my GP place.

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

ORIGINAL: graham

HI,
After paying£50 each for yellow fevervaccinations, and later finding out that prices vary.I'm presently shopping around for the cheapest possible Malarone (anti malaria tablets).
We went to the doctors for a private prescription @ £14.50 each, went to the localchemist and was quoted £65 each for 23 tablets.
I've managed to get down to £48.30 from Boots .com. which is quite a drop.
Does anyone know if I can get it cheaper any where else?, I'm not a skinflint by any means but these price differencesare ridiculous.
Thank you
signed
Mr Angry

Hi Graham,

Malarone, indeed! sigh!

V has given you much useful info, Not surprising as he is such a seasoned traveller and a thoroughly decent not to say knowledgable chap! I shall provide what info I can!

Malarone = Proprietory name for "Proguanil Hydrochloride"(100mg) with "Atovaquone"(250mg), manuf. Glaxo-Welcome, 12 tab pack, 1 tab. daily for the prophylaxis (prevention) of Malaria in very high risk areas; typically sub-saharan Africa.

To assess the risk level in the area that you plan to visit, see:

[link= http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm ]http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinat.htm[/link] or

[link= http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/malaria_prevention.html ]http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/malaria_prevention.html[/link] or

[link= http://www.preventingmalaria.info/ ]http://www.preventingmalaria.info/[/link]

That last site is an on-linepharmacy- Malarone there @ £1.99 per tablet.

For moderate risk areas the combination avloclor(Chloroquine) + Proguanil(Paludrine) should suffice. The Boots pack is economical and effective. at £11.93/pack. Here:

[link= http://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk/index.cfm?page=pharmacy.productDetail&productid=5 ]http://www.stratford-pharmacy.co.uk/index.cfm?page=pharmacy.productDetail&productid=5[/link]

Also available at

[link= http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/list.asp?page=1&level=3&ref=727930MA ]http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/list.asp?page=1&level=3&ref=727930MA[/link]at £15.50/pack/2 weeks vacation.

Hope this helps.

Prashna

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Hi all,
Thanks for your replies. My GP's advice was thar we had Hepititis A, diptheria,yellow fever,tetanus and polio vaccinations,( all of which we've had) and that Malarone was the most convenient because you only start taking it 2 days before you go, each day of your trip, and for a week afterwards. Which in our case is 23 tablets. Also it's supposed to have the least side effects.
I haven't bought any asyet, we're not going for another 3 weeks, so I'll do a bit more homework.
Thanks again,
Graham.

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Good luck and enjoy the trip, Graham.

Not to forget the most obvious things, as I began to realise this year. ;)Most potential bites are avoidable anyway. I invested in my very own mosquito net from a camping shop - and I admit I never put it up anywhere until I had a bad night there. [&:]But they do cut out all the overnight bites, which is in fact when most occur.

Mozzies for some reason just love dusk and dawn. They ate the same time I did, as the sun had gone down. I'd be eating out, while they ate me under the table! So infuture I'd not wear shorts at dusk :Dand that's when I plastered my feet and ankles in repellent.

Then the pills are just for the odd mozzie that gets through, like the one luckyJapanese Zero from a kamikaze squadron.

Venetian

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Hi All

Some interesting information, thanks.
I will definitely be getting a mozzie net for my son and following leads on anti malaria tablets.

Has anyone tried eucalytus oil for combat against mozzies?

I have tried it and found it effective in Europe, I think it works well and is much more pleasant than repellants........
BUT does it work in Asia????

Thanks

Aria

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

ORIGINAL: Ria1

Hi All

Some interesting information, thanks.
I will definitely be getting a mozzie net for my son and following leads on anti malaria tablets.

Has anyone tried eucalytus oil for combat against mozzies?

I have tried it and found it effective in Europe, I think it works well and is much more pleasant than repellants........
BUT does it work in Asia????ThanksAria

Hi Ria1 and Graham,

I really am very short of time. So I shall direct you to this excellent site:

[link= http://www.bugbog.com/travel_health/malaria.html ]http://www.bugbog.com/travel_health/malaria.html[/link]

To summarise,

1. Follow V's advice I fully endorse it.

No, not about the shorts and outdoor meal in the evening. My knock knees fortunately enable me to avoid shorts with ease. As indeed you should.

Heavy duty Cotton Twill trousers or slacks. The thin feminine ones the mosquitoes will simply laugh at. Believe me, their grin when they bite into human flesh is as wide as the Cheshire Cat's.

Also mosquito nets every night - preferably DEET impregnated - tuck in well

2. Spray permethrin on the net - extremely low toxicity to humans. Also spray permethrin in all the dark places under the bed etc.

3. Outdoors- wear light colours, fawn is good. No perfume for you Ria, esp in the evening. At night under a Permethrin impregnated and secured net, perfume is OK, for whatever purpose you wish to deploy it for.

4. If bitten, apply lemon juice on the spot, and fast.

5. Repellants in order of effectiveness
(a) DEET 25-50% concentration. Effective but smelly.
(b) Mosiguard (mixture of citrodiol & Eucalyptus)
(c) NeemCare
(d) Lemon Eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, citronella oil DILUTED with suitable carrier oil eg Sunflower or sesame.

6. Electric 'vape' mats work well.

Electronic buzzers/sonic deterrents do NOT work, except to provide much needed entertainment for the mosquitoes. They would just laugh at you.

Live long and prosper.

Prashna

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Thanks for that Prashna, it's a good site. Mozzies seem to love my blood for some reason,so I can't get enoughadvice to stop them. Last year I was experimenting with Avon skin so soft dry oil body spray, which hascitronella in it. I only had one bite at the start of the holiday only because I didn't put any on.Also I used lemon shower gel.I'll stilltakeother stuff just in case .
Namaste,
Graham

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

hi graham,

i make an aftersun blend of E45 lotion (not cream) and lavender, peppermint and sandalwood oils. lavender is especially cooling to the skin, helps you sleep and repels insects, as does peppermint and sandalwood.

i find this very effective in europe but if i go to malaria countries i would also use proper mozzie repellant with deet cos i wouldnt want to take the chance!

boots soltan do a good sun lotion and aftersun that has insect repellant in too.

do avoid the citrus oils in the sunshine as they can cause photosensitivity.

i also heard once that one should use their best chanel perfume on ankles to put mozzies off!! and also vitamin B... lol smear marmite on!! 😀

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Hi Graham,

To repeat the info I gave last year - mosquitoes HATE the taste of Thiamin (Vit B1), which is in Marmite, so take a small jar. Also take B1 , but not on its own but get combination B vitamins. The B1 part should be at least 100mg. It works, along with Avon Skin-so-soft. You'll smell like a Turkish brothel from the Avon and don't wear a white shirt or it'll end up yellow!

Judy

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

ORIGINAL: ro§ie

i also heard once that one should use their best chanel perfume on ankles to put mozzies off!!

Since we're pooling all kinds of anti-mozzie info here ;), some years back I read about a scientific study finding that they are powerfully attracted by smelly feet and socks. So any kind of other odour on the feet and ankles may help, and to shower often! (If it's true.)

V

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Thanks again Judy,
I'll also get some vitamin B tablets, and if I take marmite I'll eat it and not rub it on this time.
Kind regards,
Graham.

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

BTW, I'm sure I don't have to tell you! :D- but having taken all precautions, focus on enjoying the trip!!!! 🙂

I do agree in all the advised precautions, but I actually have friends who have spent months out East without bothering with pills, jabs, or anything. I don't agree with that attitude and I must emphasise that, but they came home perfectly well anyhow, so the threat is not so great.

Unless I missed it higher in the thread, may I ask where you are off to?

V

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

Hi V,
Sorry I'm not very free with my information, it's not intentional. Anyway we're off to Kenya near Mombasaon a 2 week beach vacation (to celebrate our 30th weddinganniversary). I'm going to book a safari for a few days when we're there. I agree that all the jabs etc are a bit over the top, but on theup side they're good for ten years so we won't need themfor a while.
With all the tips and advice from you and other kind folk we should be ready for anything! (with in reason). Fingers crossed if all goes well, it should be the best holiday we've ever had.
For our next jaunt, if all goes well we'd really love to go to India, so I'll be back on to pester some more.
Thanks again,
Graham.

RE: Malarone anti malaria tablets

That sounds as if you'll have a wonderful time. Enjoy! You might even wantto report here on HP how you found it. I have a freind who goes to Kenya often.

You could consider just getting Boots' own brand which are the £17.95 for 7 weeks tablets (both types together in a box). Or, since I sometimes need such things, I'd be interested in if there's a reason you'd really prefer Malarone? (In my net search I did see websites offering it "cheap" BTW.)
Venetian

Hi.

I can't find 'Boots own brand' on their web site.
Do you have a link ?

Thanks

P

Hi.

I can't find 'Boots own brand' on their web site.
Do you have a link ?

Thanks

P

Hi Piloti,

Try this one:

[DLMURL="http://www.travelpharm.com/index.cfm/malaria/Products.Details/product_id/9/subject/paludrine_avloclor_xa31260_per_pack_7_strips_free_postage"] http://www.travelpharm.com/index.cfm/malaria/Products.Details/product_id/9/subject/paludrine_avloclor_xa31260_per_pack_7_strips_free_postage [/DLMURL]

Boots sell the Paludrine (Proguanil) only here:

<a class="go2wpf-bbcode" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href=" http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1061727&classificationid=1047205 "> http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1061727&classificationid=1047205

You'll have to get the Chloroquine separately if ypou go along this route:

Ask for Avloclor (Astra-Zeneca) or Nivaquine (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer). Most Chemists should stock these.

Good Luck.

Prashna

we used Malarone in Kenya last yr and were one of the few to not suffer side effects compared to over people on different anti-malaria tabs

lots of people were getting bad sunburn but in random places plus other side effects

at the moment Asda is the cheapest on the high st but it alternated between them and Tesco

word of warning - if you dont have Yellow Fever when you go to Kenya you can be refused entry to parts of the US - Dom Rep in particular if you visited within 10yrs without the jab

malaria is a big killer and its better to be safe than sorry - we are going to The Gambia next week and are also taking Malarone (the main side effect is nausea but as long as you take it with food it is low risk)

NHS Fit for Travel website - malaria hotspots

My advice is to visit the NHS website Fit for Travel and look at your destination countries - that will tell you what type of anti malaria tablets you need.

Once you know what malaria tablets you need, then you can order them online (if in the UK) from Dr Fox - this is the only properly registered service (registered and regulated by the Care Quality Commission) in the UK to provide online prescritpions for anti malaria tablets:

Malaria is an awful condition so advise err on the side of caution.