Lariam in Morocco
 

Hi - My 6 months supply of Lariam has gone! (stolen) - I need some more in two weeks as I still have 1 tablet left - can I buy this stuff in Morocco? - if so where? - I can get it sent from the UK but dont have a forwarding address so it would make more sense to buy it on route. I will be travelling further south from there but am not sure how long it will take to get to Gambia - I'm not prepared to take a chance as I'm a magnet to those little bastards!!

Many thanks in anticipation

Rob

Morocco is practically malaria free, just a handful of cases each year (and mainly limited to May-October), so it's unlikely you'll find Lariam in stock in a pharmacy. They might be able to get it in for you, but all pharmacy stuff tends to be very expensive in Morocco--think in terms of £10 for sunscreen!

If you are still in Spain you'd be better off sourcing it there.

An alternative is 100mg/day of doxycycline taken with supper (NOT at bedtime, if it gets stuck in the esophagus overnight you'll have chest pain the next am). Starting 1 day before arrival in malarial area and for 4 weeks after leaving. It should be very cheap and is a very common tetracycline type antibiotic that has been around for years. It does not have the nervous system toxicity of Lariam (which accumulates with long term use because it has a half-life of 7 weeks). It is slightly photosensitizing but taking it with supper mitigates that effect.
It works on chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria just like Lariam.

Charlie

If you are going further south then I'd recommend getting yourself to the Institut Pasteur in Casa - I think that's the only one (I.Pasteur I mean)... they do shots etc too .. Have a google on them .. the address is on the net somewhere

Doxy for Africa is 'dodgy' if you are exposed to the sun ..

Kira

Malaria
 

larium is not a safe drug, please keep that in mind. It remains on the market because british and american military place massive pressure on their respective governments to keep the drug on the market. I have traveled extensivly and from what I have seen atleast 6 in 10 people have terrrable side effects. The side effects are usually found at the begining of the trip, however i began to display mental side effects 5 months after starting to use the drug in Uganda. The side effects can in a small percentage of cases be perminant. Doxy is fine if you are willing to put sun block on. I was personally ok even without it, but I had developed quite a tan at that point. A rule of thumb for me is that if I am not on a crazy schedule I do not take meds. Treatment of malaria is cheep and effective across the African contenent and you can esaily pick up a good course of treatment at any chemist incase you find your self affected in a remote location.

Please don't scare people on a public forum like this about medicine

It's horses for courses and most doctors will point out the side effects. Lariam 'should' be tried prior to leaving to see if there are any side effects ...

I've used it for about 10yrs now, I took it within 6months of it first reaching the market. I've just come back from a 4week trip and both myself & my 12yr old goddaughter took it (her first time) without any side effects.

I have side effects from Malarone, being female I don't take kindly to my hair falling out!

Kira

British army doesnt use larium.... cant remember what i was on in Afghanistan but it was a two tablet combo, one once a day the other once a week.... or was it twice a day and once a day... Meh... it wasnt larium...

If the worst comes to the worst keep covered and find a NGO they will have loads of the stuff... Search the Web you'll find one..

I got malaria in Kenya, and began a treatment of larium. Then went to hospital and was treated by an Italian doctor who is one of the top experts in the world on malaria and tropical medicines. I got a right scolding for using larium, a drug he was firmly against...
Lorraine