Malarone, India, cost/availability

[jam54321]

Hi

Does anybody know how available/pricey malarone is in India?

Been recommended by my GP its the best drug about. The problem is I don't know how long i'll be in malaria infected areas for and therefore don't know how many tablets i'll need to take.

Thought it might be easier to just buy a few in the UK and then buy any extra I need in India.

Is this a stupid idea or a cunning plan?? :confused1:

Thanks James

[a1arn]

what's the generic name?

[jam54321]

Hi

Don't know the generic name but the active ingredients are, atovaquone and proguanil.

cheers
James

[markharf]

You'll want to confirm this, of course, but here's my understanding: Malarone has no generic equivalent, hence the expense. Prices are generally equivalent wherever it's licensed.

I use it a lot, since I think it's the best on the market (at least here in the USA). But there's no denying it's horribly expensive, especially compared to doxycycline which is dirt cheap. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.

I'm always concerned about phony, out-dated, mis-stored or adulterated medications. There's a lot of counterfeiting of medications in South Asia, so you'll want to factor that bit of information into your decisionmaking.

If you're a gambler and plan to socialize with other travelers in India, you'll find the cheapest way to buy Malarone is buying from other travelers whose plans have changed. Or, if you'll be traveling again in the future you might just buy in advance of need and set the excess aside. In this case it's a good idea to figure out a way to track expiration dates.

Hope that helps.

Mark

[GSPeter]

I was told by a friendly doctor in Udiapor, dec '08, that Malarone was not legally available in India yet, therefore I would be very careful about buying there. Buying a dud could be very bad for your health. I have never had malaria or taken Malarone, but was advised to use it 'crash course' if I developed symptoms. This was because I was travelling through different areas with different risks, to avoid having to eat it all the time. Prevent bites is your first defence. Take your own mozzie net, I used a coil to fumigate rooms, which worked.
Good luck,
Peter, in Oslo