Monday, Mom and I headed up to the Northside of Indy to Passport Health for my antimalaria medication. There’s really nothing glamorous about sitting down and discussing dates of travel and what is best for my health…especially since I’ve done it all before…but since the appointment was brief, Mom and I decided to do a little shopping afterwards.
Anyway, last year I took the Malarone antimalaria medication since it has virtually no side effects; however, after talking to a lot of people who have taken the Lariam and have not had any trouble, I decided to go with it this year since it’s so much cheaper ($100 cheaper in my case). The nurse did read down the list of side effects (which include crazy dreams, mood changes, and anxiety) and drilled me as to whether or not I’ve ever suffered seizures or depression…even a little bit. Once I passed her interrogation, she gave me enough Lariam to last the entire time I’m in Sudan and Uganda. I didn’t intend to take any while in Uganda, but you have to take the Lariam 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after being in a high-risk area, so it nearly bled into the second Sudan trip in July anyway.
Then, she reviewed my vaccinations and saw that I pretty much covered them all last year. I did, however, still need to get the Hepatitis A booster that finishes the series and immunizes me for life. So, I went ahead and agreed to get that done while I was there. The only problem was that I forgot that the Hep A shot is VERY painful!
Pain aside, I am now completely immunized and ready to go!
For those of you who are wondering, here’s the cost of healthy travel this year:
Office visit: $55
Hep A booster: $85
Lariam (20 weeks): $300
Grand total: $440
**Edited to Add**
Just after I published this post, I Googled “Lariam” just to make sure I had spelled it correctly, and I was shocked at the crazy stuff that came up in the search! I knew that there were more possible side effects with Lariam than Malarone (the drug I took last year), but there are entire action groups devoted to stopping Lariam’s production.
Anyway, I then Googled “Lariam vs. Malarone” to see a side-by-side comparison, and I was also surprised at what came up with Malarone. Apparently, Malarone- though known to be well-tolerated- has a laundry list of side effects, too. One of them happens to be crazy dreams. I have made several comments to people that I had the strangest dreams while in Sudan last year, but I attributed it to a change in…well, everything! I specifically remember dreaming about cheating on Blaise (and feeling very guilty) AND the best one was a giant t-rex that came storming into Nasir, roaring and stomping. It appears that I was worried about crazy dreams with Lariam, and I had already experienced the crazy dreams with Malarone!
**EDITED TO ADD (4:10pm April 21, 2011)**
I took all of your comments to heart, and I went today to switch to Malarone. They allowed me to exchange the pills (unopened blister packs), and because Malarone is a daily pill, it only ended up being $75 more. After everything I read and all of your comments, I am going to consider that money well spent!
I really appreciate all of your comments, and I am SO sorry that you have suffered from something that was supposed to protect you!
Hi,
I've actually taken both Lariam and Malarone on trips to Africa, and so I am in a good position to make a comparison. I would definitely NOT recommend Lariam, as I have suffered 16 years of some pretty horrible side effects, and all the evidence suggests that I may have suffered permanent brain damage to my central nervous system. This problem has had a serious knock-on effect on my life, and it is only the reality of the grace of God which gets me through each day.
It is true that I had a stomach upset when taking Malarone when I went to Uganda in 2002, but my system could have been weakened because of the Lariam I took in 1995. This physical effect was absolutely nothing compared to the panic attacks I had after taking Lariam.
I wish you every blessing for your trip.
Allistair Graham (UK)
I took Lariam when I went on a missions trip to Kenya in 1998. I wish someone would have stopped me! Taking Lariam while knowing the side possible side effects is like playing russian roulette with the gun half loaded. Please reconsider! Please! Unless you have been severely affected by Lariam's horrors you can't understand the depths of the suffering it causes. I only took 2 doses.
I am willing to help you with the extra $100 cost if it would prevent you from taking Lariam. Your sister in Christ.
I would echo the comments above about the dangers of Lariam. When I took it 3 years ago I was in good health and had taken it before with no side effects. This time was different though. I have suffered from depression for the past 3 years. The depression has begun to lighten, but I am still battling it. Saving a hundred bucks is not worth this risk. I would give anything to not have had this experience.
10 years later and I am still affected by the side effects, the lost revenue from an income and piece of mind is well worth spending that 100.00.
I was not told about the side effects and the ones you describe just talk about the short term ones. They do not include the possibility of the long term effects.
I would spend 10,000 or more just to feel normal again. I hope you don't take lariam and opt for the much safer medication.
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and we were forced to take it, you have the option of taking something that does not have the risk of ruining your life. If you get sick from the lariam, your choices are few on the road to recovery. Most Doctors, and about everyone else has no idea what type of pain you are going through.
Why don't you join the support group on yahoo for people with revere reactions to Lariam? Ask them what happened when they took it? Ask if they would take Lariam again, or recommend it even to an enemy?
Good luck. You will be happy if bad dreams are the worst effect you develop.
Jeanne Lese, Director
Mefloquine (Lariam) Action
http://www.lariaminfo.org
For what it's worth – I had many issues with Lariam, and the cost was far greater than $100 with all the medical bills. I never had any health issues in the past. I'm one of the lucky ones though that recovered in under 2 years. One friend who was overseas with me still has seizures that progressively get worse. We were "required" to take the drug – but a large portion of my group of 80 stopped taking it due to side effects (of course though they continued to report that they were taking it with no troubles so they would not be sent home and not raise questions). So if memory serves correct, the 5-10% of people who experience side effects does not include those who do not take it as directed due to side effects.
You appear to be a Christian since you say God has laid something on your heart. Well, lariam nearly ruined my life, and I never felt more like Job from the Bible than when I was trying to recover from it. $100 saving is really not that much. Many people in the action group have had their lives ruined. I think I lost about 14 months out of mine (I took it in 1992, before very much was known about it)
I am a Lariam victim. I took three tablets ten years ago and you could say that I am now 'cured' but I still get periods of depression, anxiety, etc. two or three times a year. Remember you can't take a couple of tablets to see if you will suffer from side effects. If you take a tablet and it addles your brain, that's you in trouble possibly for the rest of your life. I would spend a thousand dollars to be cured; saving a hundred and taking the chance of going through the hell some of us have suffered is not a sensible gamble.
Tony Watson, UK