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Scuba Forum / UK Scuba / October 2007anti-malaria medication
Lariam. This medication is used to treat and prevent malaria. http://www.canadianmedsworld.com/item.php?id=768&aid=1855 >Lariam. >This medication is used to treat and prevent malaria. causes severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, nightmares, insomnia, seizures, peripheral motor-sensory neuropathy, vestibular (balance) damage and central nervous system problems. Not really ideal for a diver  SignatureIan >>Lariam. >>This medication is used to treat and prevent malaria. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Not really ideal for a diver Might I suggest that neither is malaria? Or for anyone else for that matter. Just because a drug has a recognised side effect doesn't mean you will certainly experience it. Ken > Might I suggest that neither is malaria? Or for anyone else for that > matter. Just because a drug has a recognised side effect doesn't mean you > will certainly experience it. Lariam is particularly bad for divers as it can mask symptoms of DCS. I usually got with Malarone. It's expensive but you don't have to take it weeks before and afterwards. Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports and the UK Underwater Visibility Database. View the database or add your own report >> Might I suggest that neither is malaria? Or for anyone else for that >> matter. Just because a drug has a recognised side effect doesn't mean you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > usually got with Malarone. It's expensive but you don't have to take it > weeks before and afterwards. That's as may be, and I agree as it happens - in broad terms. Might I suggest an alternative strategy? Various strains of malaria are variously sensitive or resistant across the spectrum of antimalarials. You and I and everyone else have little choice as to what is the preferred prophylactic antimalarial to take when visiting any given part of the malaria-affected world. So, if there is a particular medication which it is wiser not to take, or one prefers not to take for whatever reason, avoid going to those places where that anti-malarial is the drug of choice. It's one of a number of choices to be made. I for one would prefer not to go to a country where my personal safety is at great risk, nor would I go where my health is at great risk either. However I would not dream of stopping anyone from going to places I personally would rather avoid. Ken > That's as may be, and I agree as it happens - in broad terms. Might I > suggest an alternative strategy? Various strains of malaria are variously [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > take, or one prefers not to take for whatever reason, avoid going to those > places where that anti-malarial is the drug of choice. Ken, have you ever been anywhere where they said you needed lariam? As far as I am aware, there is always a choice. And in the areas with the most resistant strains, it comes down to lariam, doxycycline or malarone. There's not much to choose in terms of effectiveness between any of them, but some people react badly to some drugs and not others. The medical advice I was given was to find one of the 3 that you didn't have a reaction to, and stick with it. > It's one of a number of choices to be made. I for one would prefer not to > go to a country where my personal safety is at great risk, nor would I go > where my health is at great risk either. However I would not dream of > stopping anyone from going to places I personally would rather avoid. Hell, you might get hit by a bus tomorrow. Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports and the UK Underwater Visibility Database. View the database or add your own report >> That's as may be, and I agree as it happens - in broad terms. Might I >> suggest an alternative strategy? Various strains of malaria are variously [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > advice I was given was to find one of the 3 that you didn't have a > reaction to, and stick with it. . . . . as long as it's a drug to which the malaria in the region you are visiting is not resistant. >> It's one of a number of choices to be made. I for one would prefer not to >> go to a country where my personal safety is at great risk, nor would I go >> where my health is at great risk either. However I would not dream of >> stopping anyone from going to places I personally would rather avoid. > > Hell, you might get hit by a bus tomorrow. Indeed I might - but I might not. It may be an asteroid falling from the sky instead. It's a question of minimising / managing / accepting risk (or not) and in what context. Ken > . . . . as long as it's a drug to which the malaria in the region you are >visiting is not resistant. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> >> Hell, you might get hit by a bus tomorrow. You may not have to leave the UK. http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,2167212,00.html SignatureMick Whittingham 'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.' William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2. >> . . . . as long as it's a drug to which the malaria in the region you are >>visiting is not resistant. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > You may not have to leave the UK. Indeed, even before this, it was a rare but refcognised occurrance to contract malaria in the UK if you lived a short distance from an airport which had flights coming in from places which did have it. All it takes is ONE mozzie bite, and you're it! Ken > Indeed, even before this, it was a rare but refcognised occurrance to > contract malaria in the UK if you lived a short distance from an airport > which had flights coming in from places which did have it. All it takes is > ONE mozzie bite, and you're it! > > Ken This is my thoughts on the plane on the way back from Bonaire. Bonaire is supposedly not a malaria hotspot, but Ecuador is and we all jump on a plane that has just landed from Ecuador on the way home. Keith >> Might I suggest that neither is malaria? Or for anyone else for that >> matter. Just because a drug has a recognised side effect doesn't mean you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >usually got with Malarone. It's expensive but you don't have to take it >weeks before and afterwards. I'm just back from 2 weeks in the Solomons. I took (and am still taking) what was recomended for that area; Doxycycline. http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/ I think one other in the group took Malarone, but most were on Doxy. Gordon >>> Might I suggest that neither is malaria? Or for anyone else for that >>> matter. Just because a drug has a recognised side effect doesn't mean you [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >I think one other in the group took Malarone, but most were on Doxy. Diving and work has taken me often into several malaria high risk areas. Notable Kourou in French Guyana. The recommendation for Kourou from the medical establishment in the UK was mefloquine weekly and daily chloroquine. If you are out there for any length of time or familiar with the environment the French recommended you didn't take anything for malaria but were very aware of the symptoms. 'IF' you detected any you went straight to the hospital were checked and if positive bombarded with the relevant anti malaria drugs. Work meant we were very close to good medical facilities. Taking mefloquine had the effect of masking the symptoms of one type of malaria out there and that could have been fatal. It was for one colleague. SignatureMick Whittingham 'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.' William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2. > I'm just back from 2 weeks in the Solomons. I took (and am still taking) > what was recomended for that area; Doxycycline. > > http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/ > > I think one other in the group took Malarone, but most were on Doxy. It does list malarone and lariam as alternatives on that page though by their generic names. The big advantage with malarone is that you only take it 2 days before and one week after. It's a lot longer for doxy, isn't it? So have you got a pink nose? How was the diving? Who did you dive with? What sort of depths? Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports and the UK Underwater Visibility Database. View the database or add your own report >> I'm just back from 2 weeks in the Solomons. I took (and am still taking) >> what was recomended for that area; Doxycycline. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >their generic names. The big advantage with malarone is that you only take >it 2 days before and one week after. It's a lot longer for doxy, isn't it? 2 days before and 4 weeks after. I can live with that.. >So have you got a pink nose? No. It rained every day. I didn't even use sunblock which, as those who know me, know I really need as I can get sunburnt on a boat in January in the UK ... >How was the diving? Who did you dive with? What sort of depths? Dived with Tulagi Dive. We were doing 2 55-70m dives each day. I was spending from 30 to 45 miuntes on the bottom for a total run-time of 1.5 to 2 hours give or take. http://www.tulagidive.com.sb/Index1.htm We did 13 dives in total. It should have been nearer 20, but the local airline is rubbish. Getting there (& back!) was the biggest headache. We flew the wrong way round - Heathrow -> LA -> NZ -> Brisbane where we then had the luxury of one night in a hotel, then onto the Solomons. Or so we thought... They cancelled the flight on us because they couldn't pay the fuel bill. (or something). We flew the next day, but lost another day's diving as they had to land in Cairns to get fuel so by the time we got there, we couldn't make the sea crossing (1.5 hours in the dive boat) as it was dark. The dives were: USS Aaron Ward (x4), Kanawah (x4), RNZN Moa, USS John Penn, Tama Maru, Azumasan Maru and the reef. (Some did the bow of the USS Minneapolis too) Weather wasn't kind to us either - it rained every day, making the visibility poor - I've had clearer 70m dives in the UK! The island had variable power - so some days there was no running water or lights. Fortunately the dive centre had their own generator, so could still run the compressors. So it was a good trip, but the logistics of getting rebreathers out there, arranging sofnolime & helium were "challenging"... Gordon > No. It rained every day. I didn't even use sunblock which, as those who > know me, know I really need as I can get sunburnt on a boat in January in > the UK ... And sun sensitivity is a side effect of doxy. > So it was a good trip, but the logistics of getting rebreathers out there, > arranging sofnolime & helium were "challenging"... Yeah, I can imagine. I looked at going there once and decided to go to Vanuatu as it seemed a bit easier. Even there, where they've been diving regularly for much longer, getting a pair of fins that were any good was a struggle let along exotic luxuries like helium. Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports and the UK Underwater Visibility Database. View the database or add your own report >> No. It rained every day. I didn't even use sunblock which, as those who >> know me, know I really need as I can get sunburnt on a boat in January in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jason When doing dives in the pacific islands you could try contacting Bob at the Lae BOC Gas centre in PNG. He is the manager for the pacific islands and could arrange things or give advice on what is available. He is a diver and his daughter an instructor so he could be sympathetic to divers. I had my first dive with Bob and it was interesting to say the least. SignatureBrad Leyden 6° 43.5816' S 146° 59.3097' E WGS84 Forecast for tomorrow, heavy showers overnight with a fine day. Temps: min 24ºC max 32ºC Bet I'm right for where I am, Could you say the same without changing it daily? To mail spam is really hot but please reply to thread so all may benefit (or laugh at my mistakes) > causes severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, nightmares, insomnia, > seizures, peripheral motor-sensory neuropathy, vestibular (balance) damage > and central nervous system problems. > > Not really ideal for a diver Yeah it takes a special sort of f*ckwit to spam the one anti-malarial not recommended for divers to uk.rec.scuba. Jason SignatureSee http://www.scuba-addict.co.uk/ for UK diving reports and the UK Underwater Visibility Database. View the database or add your own report >> causes severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, nightmares, insomnia, >> seizures, peripheral motor-sensory neuropathy, vestibular (balance) damage [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Jason Although my experience of Lariam was quite good. In 2000 I spent about 6 weeks on a fairly-drug-resistant-malaria-ridden island in the Philippines. I was taking Lariam for the duration, most others were on Doxy. I didn't have any 'bad' side effects, but I did have some wicked dreams. jon There are new treatments available and it is worth going on one at least 6 weeks before so you can judge the results. some make you sick for the day you take them others make you hypersensitive to the sun. For a short time visit to a malaria are they are worthwhile long term not so much as the treatments stuff you as much as the malaria does. None of the long term expats here that I know of take preventive meds but all will take the treatments with them whenever they travel as that is usually when the malaria will strike. Take simple steps to avoid the mozzies, 1. Try to stay elevated around dusk and dawn, at least 3 feet above the ground reduces the risk greatly. 2. If you can stand a mozzie net, use that while sleeping (preferably a treated net) and if that is too hot use coils or a citronella based oil (when available) in a lantern. 3. Cover up when you can, especially the legs. Some people get bad symptoms from malaria and in others it seems like a head cold. If you start getting bad migraine headaches head to a quack ASAP as the cerebral strain is deadly and hours can count. For the other 2 common types it's just uncomfortable if you are healthy. In Malaria prone areas the treatments are cheap to buy and as I have said before if you don't use them you can donate them as you leave. Disposable test kits are available for less than £5 and give a result in 5 minutes, even if you take the preventative they can be a handy backup. Everyone I know gets malaria, it's just a part of life, I'm overdue at the moment so perhaps I shouldn't have said anything. SignatureBrad Leyden 6° 43.5816' S 146° 59.3097' E WGS84 Looking at Steven Hawkings' "String Theory" All matter in the universe is composed of tiny vibrating strings So all things are made from music. Music to my ears is my Tiagra 50W screaming when towing a Wombat from Pakula. That must be why nothing else in the universe matters except fishing. To mail spam is really hot but please reply to thread so all may benefit (or laugh at my mistakes) > >>> causes severe depression, anxiety, paranoia, nightmares, insomnia, [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > jon > Lariam. > This medication is used to treat and prevent malaria. > > http://www.canadianmedsworld.com/item.php?id=768&aid=1855 Hope you don't mind the interjection, but I used "Malarone" when I went to Sipadan Island (off Borneo) last year which doesn't have the side effects Lariam has (I know I tried Lariam in Africa and I had biting headaches and nose bleeds which I've never expereinced since a small child). I did have a few nightmares on Malarone but ask the DAN help line if you;re not sure or a good hyperbaric dive doctor (DDRC can help if you want good advice). As with all medicines and diving ask a diving doctor who can get access to your medical records. One benefit is you only need to start taking the tablets (just 1 a day) the day before arriving in the mosquito infested country you;re diving in and 1 extra tablet the day you get back (or out of the infected area to be more accurate). They're not cheap though, so shop around (boots online, or I got mine from Tescos !). Tim On Sep 18, 3:04 am, "tim.griezi...@gmail.com" <tim.griezi...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Lariam. > > This medication is used to treat and prevent malaria. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Tim Bit late to the discussion, but I was a diver and medic in a nice malaria infested location for a while, and the three recommended anti- malarials were doxycycline, mefloquine and malarone... I was on mefloquine for a year, because I don't get any of the side effects, but I did see a few people have nightmares and/or hallucinations (in one case a girl kicked her boyfriend off a bed because she thought he was covered in spiders). Doxy was the drug of choice due to cheapness and lack of perceived signs from issuing doctors in the UK, but I would say that I saw at least a 1 in 5 rate of photosensitivity with the worst examples requiring people to wear 40+ SPF, gloves and a hat due to severe burns, peeling skin and so on... mostly it was cases of pink nose and fingers though... Malarone has not really had the same level of testing as the others, but it seems to be the best in terms of adverse effects although it is the most expensive. Dan. |
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