1. torinto
   Member

   Has anyone had any experience with, or have knowledge of, the anti-malarial drug Lariam?

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. dodoko
   Member

   I took Larium in Africa as well and had no side effects, I didn't even get to experience the funky dreams that everyone else was having. We did run into a fellow who had taken a job with one of the overland companies and was on Larium for 9 months. The result was that he had lost about 80% of his hearing in one of his ears.

   Posted 1 year ago #

3. sortol
   Member

   After a 2 month stint with it in Latin America--I will never take it again. Everytime i slept it was like i just dropped acid. my dreams were always very vivid. i never felt like i got any sleep. I always had a hard time distinguishing if something had happened or had i dreamt it. even when i would simply doze off, i would dream very hard. I ran out of my room once when (apparently) i woke up--and i sleep naked--so it was annoying (well, funny in retrospect). but the few nightmares i remember were pure terror.

   Im strictly doxcycline now--pain in the ass on the stomach but no dreams (and most importantly) very cheap.

   Posted 1 year ago #

4. putun
   Member

   This website provides valuable information to help reduce the risk and spread of malaria. It also provides important information about LARIAM¨ (mefloquine hydrochloride). http://www.rocheusa.com/products/lariam/

   Posted 1 year ago #

5. karatuz
   Member

   I was taking Lariam when I was in Africa, had to take it for 16 weeks all in all and I didn't get any side effects (not that noticed, but I have a tendency to irrational and mad behaviour anyway.)

   But I know some people who took Lariam and had problems with it, one guy had the problem that it took him about 1 hour each morning to get into gear.

   The best thing is to discuss it with the Tropical Specialist and read through all the information on all the different Malaria pills. And then decide based on what's the lesser evil is for you. They all have certain possible side effects, it's just to choose which ones. I opted for possible nightmares against Sunburn.

   If you do decide on an antimalaria pill, check in the first 2 weeks for side effects, that's when they usually occur. And for Lariam, you have to start at least 2 weeks before getting into the Malaria Zone anyway.. So there's plenty of time to change if you do get side effects.

   Posted 1 year ago #

6. judd
   Member

   I am nice, but not THAT nice hahaha . I am leaving for SE Asia next Wednesday (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and hopefully Malasya).

   Oh BTW, I am happy to inform everyone that I had no side effects thus far...if anything I think last night was my best night sleep in the last couple of weeks. I do remember dreaming but nothing out of the ordinary, nothing too crazy or too vivid or too scary. We'll see the next couple of nights...I will report with more news to you soon ;) .

   Posted 1 year ago #

7. wupok
   Member

   Mind-related side effects aren't limited to Larium. I took Doxycycline in Thailand and for the first couple of weeks everytime I took one I would feel really depressed for a few hours. It was odd. I knew I was having a good time up until I took one, but then when I did I would suddenly feel like I was having the worst holiday of my life...Worth taking them in the evening before bed so you can sleep off the bad feelings.
   Doxy also causes terrible Candida

   Posted 1 year ago #

8. utulon
   Member

   I waa in south and central Africa for almost a year and was given a years supply of Lariam, I had a couple of nightmares that spooke the sh** out of me. I took them anyway for the first few weeks but gave up on them after a while. Then I started getting mauled by mozzies and all sorts of other nasties when I moved in from the coast of Mozambique so I started taking them again. Then I gave up again in Malawi. And lo and behold I got malaria a few weeks after, and again a few weeks after I recovered. I took Arinate to cure it and I have to say that it was great, no side effects at all.
   Anyway take me as an example of what not to do if you want but ultimately its up to you. I know that when I head off again I wont be taking Lariam, it's just a personal choice.

   Posted 1 year ago #

9. gertup
   Member

   From what I've heard it's a bit of Russian Roulette. Chances are that you'll have no side-effects (direct ones - effects in the long run are simply not known for such a relatively new drug). But if you do get side-effects they can be rather severe. I heard one guy say that he got rather nasty hallucinations. I don't know if you have to start taking these some time in advance, but if so, that gives you a try-out period at home. If they have nasty effects you might want to switch to another drug. Or take none at all, like me. They are all drugs and thus potentially dangerous if taken too often.

   Posted 1 year ago #

10. torinto
    Member

    Why are you taking Lariam for southeast Asia? Malaria isn't a big problem there in the first place and the strains that do exist are pretty easy to cure; you don't need the "heavy artillery" of Lariam.

    The big problem with Lariam is usually that people take it for too long. The manufacturers only recommend it for three months maximum (or did when it first came out, at least).

    Posted 1 year ago #

11. ferdop
    Member

    It is very irresponsible to take antimalaria medication in this way, and it seems you paid the price! Lariam you have to start taking at least 1 week before going to a malaria area and continue for 4 weeks after you return from a malaria area, never stop while in a malaria area unless you spoke to you docter.

    It is not recogmended to take lariam for more than 12 months, and I do not know why anybody would want to anyway. I am going to Zanzibar for a diving holiday next month. Because of the diving I am not allowed to take lariam, I have to take doxycycline (ONE EVERY DAY FOR 8 WEEKS ). If you want to go to a malaria area contact a travel clinic or your docter they can give you lots of advice and all the different options available.

    Posted 1 year ago #

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