My friend who is South African said you can get malaria pills over the counter there in South Africa and there are less side effects than the ones is the USA. Is that true? Thoughts? Which one did you take if you got it here in US?
I took mefloquin while I was in India and had no side effects except for really colorful dreams. I suppose the ones that have side effects depend on what brand you can get there that you can't potentially get in the U.S. For more information google up Centre of Disease Control Travel Advisory and look up Malaria.
I'm not sure if its relevant for South Africa but certain parts of the world, ie. SE Asia and perhaps SAmerica, there's a possibility of counterfeit drugs so buying fake malaria pills isn't going to help you.
Reply to this My MD, who has lived in Africa, gave me Dioxicycline (sp?) as prophylactic, and the actual cure pills for if I got it anyway. The Dioxicycline is a low doseage and doesn't SEEM to leave effects aside from being a little more sensitive to the sun, and is far less expensive. If you're going into the rainforests, maybe the full thing is better, but if you're just in dry regions, I wouldn't worry about it as much. Mosti (mosquito) spray and good netting and sense are your best defense in the immediate sub-Saharan region this time of year. When the rains start, things change a bit.
Reply to this I bought mefloquin in South Africa over the counter. I suspect it has the same side effects as the same drug bought in the US. Why would it be different? (Unless it is fake, it's the same chemical!) Drugs bought in South Africa are probably genuine, I wouldn't trust those bought in West Africa, as there is a large fake drug market there.
Reply to this Care to substantiate that Stuart? I've never had any problem in Senegal, for example, nor in Conakry, at a Pharmacy... don't recall any in Bamako either. Z-pack may be called something else, but it still has its "latin" name. There may be some "remedies" offered that are lacking, but there are also many legitimate cures we don't have in the States, for example.
Reply to this You may have no difficulties in West Africa, but there are fake drugs doing the rounds in West Africa that originate in Nigeria. There is a substantial illegal fake drug industry in Nigeria.
Reply to this That's kinda risky. If your home base is in the USA, I suggest you play it safe and just take the immunization shots from your doctor. That's what I did before going to Kenya and Tanzania in 2005. I had no weird nightmares or anything like that. The peace of mind is worth it. The only thing that woke me in the middle of the night were the howls of lions in the distance.
Reply to this Britrock, WHAT immunization shots? They have a shot for Malaria now?
Stuart, I suppose so. Nigeria has fake everything NEver seen so many millionaires looking to put money in my bank account.😉 But you won't find that going on at pharmacies, etc. Even Guinea is beyond that sort of thing.
Reply to this Whoops I realized that the shots I took were for Typhoid and Yellow Fever. Malaria were prescribed pills to me. Sorry!
Reply to this Isn't that dangerous? I mean, the OTC medicine for malaria.. pretty scary.
Reply to this The answer is yes, it can be dangerous. That said, I have taken mefloquine before - the first time was on prescription. I've taken it a number of times now - it has never caused me any problems. In the UK or the USA they would never sell such malerial drugs over the counter. Then again, I am taking malerial drugs at the moment, the reason is that I visited Pulau Weh in Sumatra recently. There is supposed to be maleria on the island. So, I got some mefloquine in the city of Medan in Sumatra. It didn't cost a thing! They give out mefloquine for free in the public hospitals in Sumatra. The woman who gave me the drugs asked if I had taken them before - which I have a number of times.
Reply to this Hi,
you can detailed info for malaria on http://www.anadventureinafrica.com/medicalinfo.html
i hope this is of help
agy
Reply to this Had no side effects from Malarone, but it's expensive.
Reply to this Where are you going in South Africa? most places in SA are malaria free unless you are going north to natal, Kruger etc....
Reply to this Please, please make sure you get up to date advice about the area you are travelling to and then get the appropriate medication if it is required. Malaria (and other infections) can be subject to drug resistance and therefore the advice does change periodically. If you are travelling from a developed country, get the medication from there - there is a huge counterfeit drug market in various places around the world and malaria (or any other tropical disease) is not something to be taken lightly.
As ever, prevention is better than cure, so cover up, use repellant, etc, etc.
Ok, lecture over. Have a good trip!
Reply to this Meant to say, if the drugs are genuine, any potential side effects will be the same no matter what you paid for it or where you bought it.
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