Malaria Tablets - cheap and reliable source?
Discussion
I'm looking to buy my Doxycycline malaria tablets for a trip to Laos and Vietnam in August and my local pharmacy wants a fortune for the tablets.
I've heard that places like travelpharm.com and Chemist4U online offer the tablets at a much cheaper price even when including postage.
Has anyone got their tablets from anywhere other than the local pharmacy/doctor's recommendation and what are your recommendations?
No point paying over the odds for the same thing
I've heard that places like travelpharm.com and Chemist4U online offer the tablets at a much cheaper price even when including postage.
Has anyone got their tablets from anywhere other than the local pharmacy/doctor's recommendation and what are your recommendations?
No point paying over the odds for the same thing
I can't assist in where to get them from Ben Don, but are you really sure you want to take Doxy? It's a bloody horrible drug (it's actually an antibiotic) and can make you sick and sensitive to sunlight.
I'd take Malarone if I were you. It's a much nicer drug to take.
You could also take Mefloquine, but there are lots of nasty contra indications with that, and it's best avoided.
I'd take Malarone if I were you. It's a much nicer drug to take.
You could also take Mefloquine, but there are lots of nasty contra indications with that, and it's best avoided.
Edited by Fezant Pluckah on Thursday 17th June 12:38
Have a look on Google shopping. I've looked into this and Doxycycline can be had for 10p per tablet while Malarone are £2.25 each 
so if it's a long trip it won't be cheap.
Some sound advice I saw when I was looking into anti-malarials is to trial Doxycycline for 2 weeks while still in the UK to see if you suffer from any side effects. Some people do, some don't.
Loads of good info on gapyear.com
so if it's a long trip it won't be cheap.Some sound advice I saw when I was looking into anti-malarials is to trial Doxycycline for 2 weeks while still in the UK to see if you suffer from any side effects. Some people do, some don't.
Loads of good info on gapyear.com
Travelpharm are fine and Boots online are also competitive. It's also worth trying supermarket pharmacies as they are often just a little more expensive than the online chaps and more convenient. If doing online, allow time for your prescription to be posted to them.
Oh, and check they give you the correct number of tablets, my GP screwed up by prescribing too few pills, and when I'd corrected her mistake for her, the supermarket pharmacist managed to put too few in the box, so don't expect the professionals to know what they are doing.
Oh, and check they give you the correct number of tablets, my GP screwed up by prescribing too few pills, and when I'd corrected her mistake for her, the supermarket pharmacist managed to put too few in the box, so don't expect the professionals to know what they are doing.
Bluebarge said:
Oh, and check they give you the correct number of tablets, my GP screwed up by prescribing too few pills, and when I'd corrected her mistake for her, the supermarket pharmacist managed to put too few in the box, so don't expect the professionals to know what they are doing.
Does that mean you changed the prescription and the pharmacist ignored your alteration?Paul Dishman said:
Bluebarge said:
Oh, and check they give you the correct number of tablets, my GP screwed up by prescribing too few pills, and when I'd corrected her mistake for her, the supermarket pharmacist managed to put too few in the box, so don't expect the professionals to know what they are doing.
Does that mean you changed the prescription and the pharmacist ignored your alteration?You work in the NHS, don't you?
The docs here didn't mention Dengue at all.v15ben said:
Thanks for the advice guys. Will get the phone out and ring round as many places as I can. I always use doxy and I've never had any problems with it.
hi, i was advised a long time ago, not to use the same one all the time as it becomes less effective, and also some mossies in some places are getting resistant to certain types.i had a devils job to get the one i was recommended for Thailand and that way as the one in the books over here was a) way out of date (not up with what was being used locally) and b) recommended the drug that the people who printed the book were producing.
not sure if its like that now.
HTH
Make sure they're pricing you off the boxes of 50 tabs, not the boxes of 8. It used to make a lot of difference. (Might not now though.)
When I used to be a Pharmacist, I would do the private script for cost price if it was a gap year charity project or something similar. If it was just someone going on a long holiday, I would price match within reason too, so shopping around is a good idea.
When I used to be a Pharmacist, I would do the private script for cost price if it was a gap year charity project or something similar. If it was just someone going on a long holiday, I would price match within reason too, so shopping around is a good idea.
v15ben said:
I've been asking chemists for the exact number I need. Best quote so far was £12.50 for 37 Doxy tablets at the local chemist.
Are you only going for a week then?You know you need to take Doxy for 2 days before you enter a malaria zone and for another 4 weeks after you leave it?
That's an advantage of Malarone - it costs more but you only have to take it for 7 days after you leave the risk area, not 28.
For the last three years ive been working in the deepest part of Vietnam on the Mekong Delta at a place called Ca Mau (a real s
thole, i can say that now i have finished my contract there ), mosquitoes as big as Torbay Sh!tehawks, i tell you. They can drink a pint in one sitting, if i had taken all the tabs that i had been told by the magazines and circulars i would have been rattling. Malaria, Dengue and loads of other crap around, locals dropping like wild fire, just keep topped up on the local brew, the mozzies get pissed and start fighting with each other until death...........
Never taken malaria tabs for the last eight years out here and dont intend starting to either
thole, i can say that now i have finished my contract there ), mosquitoes as big as Torbay Sh!tehawks, i tell you. They can drink a pint in one sitting, if i had taken all the tabs that i had been told by the magazines and circulars i would have been rattling. Malaria, Dengue and loads of other crap around, locals dropping like wild fire, just keep topped up on the local brew, the mozzies get pissed and start fighting with each other until death...........Never taken malaria tabs for the last eight years out here and dont intend starting to either
I always recommend customer to look at this site for exotic travel ...... fitfortravel.nhs.uk it is easy to use and reasonably self explanatory.
My advice generaly is go for malarone bite the bullet on price you only have the week to take them when you return,doxycycline can make your stomach feel slightly off all the time and give problems in the sun, but if price really is an issue or you are there long term have doxy.
My advice generaly is go for malarone bite the bullet on price you only have the week to take them when you return,doxycycline can make your stomach feel slightly off all the time and give problems in the sun, but if price really is an issue or you are there long term have doxy.
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