Working out how many Lariam 250mg tablets, also known as Mefloquine you may need for your trip can be tricky. The below calculator can help you work out exactly how many tablets you need to buy for your trip, in as little as four clicks. All you need to know is the weight of the traveller in kg, how many days they will be at risk and finally if they/you have any spare tablets. Don't worry if you have no spares, you can put in 0 or leave the field blank.
What is Lariam?
Lariam is an anti-malaria tablet similar to an old malaria drug known as Chloroquine. Lariam contains the drug Mefloquine 250mg and is used to prevent malaria in travellers visiting areas with malaria, particularly Africa.
Many tropical areas of the world have malaria and unfortunately, the malaria parasite has evolved resistance against many drugs including Chloroquine and Mefloquine meaning the effectiveness of this drug is decreasing. Areas of concern for Mefloquine resistance are centred around Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.
For other suitable tablets, you may want to check out Travel Health Pro or FitForTravel
Approximately 1,500 malaria cases are reported each year in travellers coming into the UK. This means it’s really important that you take the right precautions to prevent catching the disease.
Why would I need Lariam, How does it work and Areas of risk
Malaria is a parasitic disease spread by mosquito bites in predominantly tropical areas of the world. This includes parts of Africa, Asia and South America. Why not check out our interactive world map which shows the areas of the world where there is a malaria risk.
https://www.travelpharm.com/malaria-risk-and-vaccination-information-i355
When you get bitten by a mosquito, it releases a parasite into your blood. Lariam works by killing this parasite, so preventing the development of the disease.
Malaria is of particular risk for certain people including pregnant women, the elderly and children, so it is important to make sure you check if you need malaria prevention before you travel. If you have children travelling with you who are under 45kg then Lariam may be a suitable choice. Please feel free to call us and we will be able to discuss your requirements.
How much will Lariam cost?
Our price for Lariam is currently £3.25 per tablet – this would cost, for a 1-week trip, just under £23 making Lariam a cost-effective option for most trips.
We do offer other types of antimalarials, which may be more appropriate than Lariam. These include Malarone and Doxycycline.
Given a choice of Lariam vs Malarone most patients would probably use Malarone.
Who can’t take Lariam?
A lot of patients think Lariam is no longer prescribed and as you are probably aware Lariam has an interesting reputation. You won't have to search too far to uncover information about side effects and issues patients have suffered. All of this aside it does remain a really useful drug for travel health professionals like doctors, nurses and pharmacists and many patients use the medicine safely every year. The following individuals should not use Lariam:
When filling out your consultation it is important that we know exactly what medicines you are currently taking, as some (although not many) cannot be taken with Lariam.
If we feel that Lariam is not the most appropriate form of malaria prevention for you, then we may offer a suitable alternative. This could be because there is a better tablet for the area you are visiting, or perhaps because of a drug interaction.
How to take it
Lariam is taken weekly. Patients find the weekly dose very useful and easy to remember. You start 10 days before arriving in the malaria risk country taking 1 tablet once a week, whilst there and then for FOUR weeks on leaving the region. A trip of two weeks would need 8 tablets.
The tablets can be taken with or without food, but we would advise you to take them with a meal. The above calculator is a handy way of working out exactly how many tablets you will need on your trip.
If you are sick within one hour of taking Lariam, then you may not be protected against malaria. You, therefore, need to take another one as soon as possible, to maintain protection.
Side effects
Lariam, like all drugs, may cause some side effects. The following side effects are reported to be common and occur in more than 1 in 100 patients:
If you start to suffer any changes to your mental state whilst using Lariam, discontinue use immediately and seek medical advice. Abnormal dreams and insomnia are very common side effects and do not automatically mean Lariam should be stopped. The relevance of such side effects should be considered alongside other mental health changes.
What else can I do to prevent Malaria?
After reading the above you think Lariam is not for you then consider using Atovaquone/Proguanil products like Malarone or Maloff Protect.
As well as taking malaria prevention, we also suggest bite-prevention methods, such as;
- Using insect repellent- both repellents applied to the skin or plug-ins for rooms.
- Wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers, especially at night.
- Keeping windows and doors closed, which can be facilitated by sleeping in well air-conditioned rooms.
- Sleeping under mosquito nets.
We also sell a range of the products mentioned above, which can be used alongside malaria prevention tablets, including repellent and nets. Click here to see our comprehensive range.
Who are TravelPharm?
TravelPharm is a UK pharmacy who specialises in the provision of all your travel health essentials. Whilst that is our speciality you can expect to find a similar range of products and services to other online pharmacies. TravelPharm is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and only uses UK based prescribers to run their service. Our prescriber is a specialist pharmacist and information about the pharmacist on duty can be found in the footer of our website.
Page created and reviewed by Andrew Walton MPharm
Date: 28/2/2020
