Anti-Malaria tablets - Any experience/advice?

[v15ben]

Spent 2 months in Tanzania in a high risk region a few years ago and took doxy religiously.

One member of our group didn't really bother with his tablets, took one every few days or so. He got malaria and I've never seen a healthy 21 year old looking more sick!

I'm heading to SE Asia in a few weeks and just stocked up on 4 months of doxy. It was stupidly cheap here in Korea (about 13 quid), but I'm not convinced that taking that many pills for so long will be good for me. Thinking of taking them on the normal schedule when we get close to higher risk areas instead of for the whole of China/Vietnam etc etc. Thoughts?

[anonymous-user]

I've lived in Malaria area's for 20 year currently I live in Borneo but have worked in West Africa, and never take Malaria tablets, I took them in India once and they burn my eyes real bad, and long term the liver risk is worse than the Malariea risk, if you stay in places that spray then as a holiday maker in decent hotels you are unlikly to get Malaria. I assume ROB works for the will know British oil company where taking them is a condition of emplyment, as these are the only long term residents I have ever known who take them, I've never known any one else advise them for more than 6 months. Biger danger is dengue, and there are no tablets for that, as in my experince it is more of a urban thing, and hepititus, , stay at places who sparay, avoid standing water (debgue) and cover up at dawn and dusk.
We had a Malaria outbrake where I am a few months ago, turned out to have come back from India with some one who had been on leave, serious spraying by the local authorities and it died out very quickly, there are lots of other things to worry about, (e.g currently we have a colerha outbrake) I don't undertand the focus on Malaria there are things ou can do to avoid it, dengue, hepetitus and colerha appear are far more random in my experience.

[havoc]

We've taken both Doxy and Malarone.

Doxy first time out that way (Cambodia), as it's half the price. Becs was ill most mornings and I felt a little unsettled.

Malarone since then whenever we've been in risky areas - minimal effect on either of us.



So Malarone any day...

[Adam B]

Last time I took them it was palindrome daily and larium weekly. Larium made me feel nauseous but otherwise ok.

Sine then never taken them as most places have been on beaten track, heard most are useless and just encourage stronger strains of malaria but reading this maybe not so!