Lariam 250mg Tablets

What is Lariam and what is it used for?

Lariam is an effective malaria treatment and preventative. It is available as a tablet and is taken once a week. Treatment begins two weeks prior to travel, continues throughout your trip and should be taken for 4 weeks after your return. It is important that you continue to take the tablets post-travel, to cover the disease’s incubation period.

Lariam contains the active ingredient mefloquine hydrochloride and is a branded medication manufactured by Roche and is available from our UK-based pharmacy. Lariam can be taken by adults and children over 3 months of age and weigh over 5kg.

You should take Lariam weekly, on the same day each week. Your dosage of Lariam tablets depends on your body weight. Adults weighing over 45kg, should take one whole tablet once a week.

What is Malaria?

Malaria is caused by the plasmodium parasite carried by mosquitoes and is transferred to humans through bites. Symptoms can take 3 months to develop after becoming infected, or even longer in some cases. These include fever, flu-like signs and headache. Some aggressive strains may cause organ failure and death, so it is essential to take precautions.

According to estimates, nearly 1,500 British travellers have contracted malaria in recent years. The condition adapts to and resists certain medications and vaccines so it is essential to research the area to which you are travelling and learn which strains may exist there. This will influence the type and course of treatment you use. Consult the Travel Health Pro website, recommended by the NHS, for advice.

How does Lariam work?

Larium contains the active ingredient mefloquine hydrochloride, which targets the parasite that causes malaria, stopping it from reproducing. This product is adept at tackling the parasites present in regions where malaria has developed an immunity to other antimalarials, such as chloroquine. It also treats active malarial strains, but this needs to be done under a doctor’s supervision.

Preventing Malaria

In addition to taking anti-malaria tablets, you can lower your risk of developing malaria by avoiding mosquito bites.

• Stay in air-conditioned rooms with screens on the doors and windows. If this is not possible, ensure that doors and windows close properly.
• If you cannot sleep in an air-conditioned room, sleep under a mosquito net that has been treated with insecticide.
• Protect your skin with insect repellent, especially in sleeping environments, and reapply it frequently. The most effective repellents contain diethyltoluamide (DEET) and are available in roll-ons, sprays, sticks and creams.
• Instead of shorts wear light, loose-fitting trousers and shirts with long sleeves. This is particularly important during the early evening and at night when mosquitoes prefer to feed.
• Vitamin B, garlic and ultrasound devices do not protect against mosquito bites.

There are currently no effective non-prescription alternatives for malaria prevention, however, you can take more steps in avoiding being bitten while away by;

• Using mosquito repellent containing DEET.
• Using a mosquito net treated with insecticide while you are sleeping.
• Using a sunscreen designed to help prevent mosquito bites

Alternatives to Lariam

There are several antimalarial medications currently available to purchase in the UK. It is usually down to individual preference as to which specific antimalarial you wish to take. It is therefore important that you spend time reading the benefits and risks associated with each treatment. The NHS website has some useful information but it is always advisable to discuss any questions or concerns with a healthcare professional before you travel.

Alternative Anti-Malarials include:

• Doxycycline
• Malarone

Sources

• Lariam, Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/e...
• https://travelhealthpro.org.uk...
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/...

Lariam warnings

Lariam is not 100% effective at preventing malaria, however, it is still very effective if taken properly and combined with bite avoidance methods.

Remember it is also essential to get the correct vaccinations for your trip before you travel. These should be administered around 6 weeks before you leave.

Remember, malaria can take up to a year to develop after you have been bitten. If you experience symptoms including headaches, night sweats and abdominal pain any time during your trip or up to one year afterwards you must see a doctor as soon as possible.

You should take adequate contraceptive precautions to ensure you do not become pregnant whilst taking Lariam and for three months after you have finished the course.

Please seek medical help immediately if you experience serious mental problems while taking Lariam. Lariam should be stopped immediately and replaced with another medicine to prevent malaria.

Lariam and other medication

Lariam should not cause a harmful interaction with any of your other current medicines, however, Lariam should not be taken if you currently take:

• Carbamazepine
• Chloroquine
• Halofantrine
• Ketoconazole
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Rifampicin
• Valproic acid (valproate)

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly for full details on warnings and precautions.

Lariam dosage

Adults and children weighing over 45kg: Take 1 tablet every week on the same day each week, taken with or after food.

Lariam needs to be taken 10 days and 3 days before entering an area where malaria is present and continued until 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area.

For information on the correct dose for adults and children weighing under 45kg please see the Patient Information Leaflet.

Lariam ingredients

Lariam tablets contain the active ingredient: mefloquine 250mg per tablet.

The other ingredients are: poloxamer, microcrystalline cellulose, lactose, maize starch, crospovidone, ammonium calcium alginate, talc, magnesium stearate.

Lariam side effects

If you do experience side effects from Lariam they may include:

• Depression
• Mood changes
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Restlessness
• Paranoia
• General agitation

Lariam has a small risk of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and skin rash as with all medicines. There have been rare reports of suicidal thoughts whilst taking Lariam.

Stop taking this medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you experience:

• Attempted suicide.
• Suicidal thoughts.
• Self-endangering behaviour.
• Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, swollen tongue, itching and severe rash.
• Severe changes in texture and appearance of the skin, especially if it affects your mouth and eyes (Stevens-Johnson syndrome).
• Psychosis (losing touch with reality).
• Severe anxiety.
• Panic attacks.
• Fits (seizures or convulsions).
• Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or chest pain. These could be signs of inflammation of the lungs also known as pneumonitis.
• Pins and needles, weakness, numbness, new or worsening clumsiness or unsteadiness on your feet, or shaking of the hands and fingers.
• Painful mouth or throat ulcers, fever, chills, bruises on the skin, nosebleeds, bleeding in the stomach or vaginal bleeding. These could be signs of blood disorders.

Please read the Patient Information Leaflet enclosed with your medicines for a full list of side effects.