Mefloquine for malaria prevention

About mefloquine

Mefloquine tablets help to protect you from malaria when you travel to areas where this can be a problem. Malaria is a serious infection. It is common in tropical countries such as parts of Africa, Asia, South and Central America, and the Middle East. Malaria is a disease which is passed on to humans by infected mosquitoes. A parasite called plasmodium lives inside the stomachs of infected female mosquitoes and is passed on to humans by a bite. Mefloquine works by killing the parasites passed into your body from the bites of the infected mosquitoes.

Poiché il modello di malaria varia a seconda della parte del mondo in cui si viaggia, della stagione e del tipo di attività pianificata, è sempre consigliabile ottenere le ultime indicazioni sulla prevenzione della malaria dal proprio medico, farmacista o organizzatore di viaggi. Un viaggio zaino in spalla potrebbe richiedere misure preventive contro la malaria diverse da quelle necessarie per un viaggio d'affari in città.

Mefloquine tablets are not available on the NHS, although you will require a prescription from a doctor to obtain them. You will be given a private (non-NHS) prescription to take to your local pharmacy, and you will be asked to pay for the tablets when they are supplied.

Mefloquine can sometimes be given to treat malaria in people who have become infected. This leaflet does not contain information about this, but your doctor can give you more information if you have been prescribed it for this reason.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking mefloquine it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• Se sei incinta, stai cercando di avere un bambino o stai allattando.

• If you have epilepsy or have ever had fits (convulsions).

• Se hai una condizione cardiaca.

• If you have ever had depression, severe anxiety, or any other mental health problem.

• Se hai problemi con il funzionamento del tuo fegato o con il funzionamento dei tuoi reni.

• If you have had Blackwater fever (a complication of malaria infection).

• Se stai assumendo altri medicinali. Questo include qualsiasi medicinale che stai assumendo e che è disponibile per l'acquisto senza prescrizione medica, così come i medicinali a base di erbe e complementari.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine. It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if you have ever had a bad reaction to a medicine called quinine.
  

• Before you take mefloquine, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about mefloquine. It will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it and what to do if you experience them.

• Take the tablets exactly as your doctor tells you to. The dose to prevent malaria in an adult is one 250 mg tablet once a week. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you. (If you have malaria and you are taking mefloquine to treat it, your dose will be different to this.) If you are giving mefloquine to a child, the dose prescribed will depend on the weight of your child. Check the label carefully to make sure you are giving the correct dose.

• Start taking the course of tablets 2-3 weeks before you travel and continue to take them for four weeks after you return. Take the tablet on the same day of the week. If you develop any side-effects in the 2-3 weeks before you travel, speak with your doctor for further advice.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water during a mealtime (or just after a snack). If you prefer, the tablet can be crushed and mixed with a little food, such as jam or honey, to make it easier to swallow.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember and then continue with your next dose on the usual day. Do not take two doses at the same time. You must complete the full course of tablets unless you are told otherwise by a doctor.

• These tablets will help prevent you from getting malaria, but it is also important that you take the following precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes:
  

  • Copri le zone scoperte di braccia e gambe con abiti a maniche lunghe, larghi e comodi, pantaloni lunghi e calze. Questo è particolarmente importante se sei all'aperto dopo il tramonto, poiché è il momento in cui le zanzare si nutrono.

  • Usa uno spray repellente efficace sugli indumenti e su tutte le zone della pelle scoperte. Se usi anche una protezione solare, applica prima la protezione solare e poi il repellente per insetti.

  • Spruzza la stanza con un insetticida ogni sera, un paio d'ore prima di andare a dormire. Controlla le aree in cui dormi per le zanzare - presta particolare attenzione ai mobili e alle zone sotto il letto dove gli insetti possono nascondersi.

  • Se dormi in una stanza senza zanzariera, usa una zanzariera impregnate di insetticida.

• It is possible that mefloquine may make you feel dizzy and affect your balance. These effects may continue for a while, even after you have stopped mefloquine. Make sure you know how you react before you drive and before you use machines or tools.

• Your doctor will discuss with you the possibility of other unwanted side-effects. If you develop any changes in your moods, thoughts or behaviour, you should see your doctor before your next dose is due so that you can be given an alternative antimalarial medicine.

• If you have been advised to have an oral vaccine to protect you against typhoid, you should arrange to have this at least three days before you start taking mefloquine. This is because mefloquine can stop the vaccine from working properly.

• If you buy any other medicines to take, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside mefloquine.

• Se ti senti male o sviluppi una temperatura alta (febbre) o sintomi simili all'influenza mentre sei in viaggio o entro un anno (specialmente se entro tre mesi) dal ritorno a casa, dovresti consultare immediatamente il tuo medico. È importante, anche se hai assunto correttamente le tue compresse antimalariche.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with mefloquine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se sperimenti altri sintomi che pensi possano essere dovuti alle compresse, parlane con il tuo medico o farmacista, che potrà consigliarti ulteriormente.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.