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Mefloquine is an antimalarial drug. It kills or prevents the growth of
malaria parasites and is therefore used to treat or prevent malaria.
Mefloquine does not prevent you from being bitten by infected mosquitoes, nor does it prevent the malaria parasites from entering the body, but it does reduce the risk of developing symptoms of malaria infection. No anti-malaria drug totally eliminates the risk of experiencing a malaria attack, therefore, try to prevent mosquito bites:
- apply insect repellents to exposed skin surfaces between dusk and
dawn when mosquitoes feed
- sleep under mosquito netting
- wear light coloured clothing (dark colours attract mosquitoes) that
covers most of the body
- use a pyrethrum-containing spray formulated for flying insects to
kill mosquitoes in living and sleeping areas
- remain indoors between dusk and dawn
Each dose should be swallowed with a full glass of water and taken with
food. This will help reduce stomach upset. If the tablet cannot be
swallowed whole, crush it and mix with a small amount of water, juice or
milk immediately before taking the dose.
Take mefloquine exactly as directed by your physician. If you are taking
mefloquine to prevent malaria, mefloquine should be started at least one
week before entering the malarious area, and continued while in the area
and for four weeks after leaving the area.
It is important that you take the drug on a regular schedule; if you are to
take mefloquine once a week, you must take the dose on the same day each
week. It is important to continue taking the tablets for the full four
weeks after leaving the malarious area in order to cover the entire life
cycle of the parasite.
Do not miss any doses. If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as
you remember and adjust the dosing schedule, counting from the day that you
took the missed dose. Do not take two doses at one time to make up for a
missed one.
Contact your physician if any side effects occur that are persistent or
bothersome. The most common side effect is stomach upset. Consult your
physician if vomiting occurs within 1 to 2 hours after taking the drug,
since this can lessen the drug's effectiveness.
If you experience unexplained anxiety, depression, restlessness, confusion,
or abnormal heart beat or palpitations, consult a physician immediately.
These effects may precede serious reactions including paranoia,
hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, or psychotic behaviour.
This medication makes some individuals feel faint or dizzy when going from
a lying to a standing position. Rising slowly may help minimize this side
effect.
Contact a physician immediately if fever or "flu-like" symptoms, such as
headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain and muscle aches, develop while
travelling in, or within 2 to 3 months after leaving, the areas where you
were taking Antimalarial medications. These may be symptoms of malaria.
Inform your physician if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant,
because the use of mefloquine is not recommended in some stages of
pregnancy. Reliable birth control precautions should be taken for the
duration of prophylactic treatment and for three months after taking the
last dose of mefloquine.
Inform your physician if you are breast-feeding, or plan to breast-feed.
In some people, side effects can include dizziness, disturbed sense of
balance, disturbed fine coordination, and other nervous system
disturbances. Avoid operating vehicles or hazardous machinery, driving, and
piloting aircraft until you know how you react to this medication. If
severe or unusual effects occur, contact your physician.
Only use mefloquine for the trip for which it has been prescribed, since it
has been chosen for its effectiveness in a specific area of travel. and
other antimalarial agents may be prescribed for travel to other areas. Do
not share mefloquine with anyone else.
Store this medication in the original labelled container out of the reach
of children. Store it away from heat, direct light, and dampness (i.e. not
in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink), because heat and moisture could
cause it to deteriorate.
