Lariam
Mefloquine
Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Lariam
Lariam is an oral anti malarial drug. It acts by killing the schizontes (schizontocide) of malarial parasites. It has no activity against the mature gametocytes of malarial parasites.
Therapeutic Uses of Lariam
Lariam is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria.
Direction of use of Lariam
- Take Lariam by mouth, usually once a week, with food or some milk to prevent gastric irritation or gastric upset. Or you should take it as per your doctor’s direction. Take it with a glass of water. Lariam should not be taken on empty stomach.
- If children can not swallow Lariam tablet as a whole than it can be crushed added small quantity of water, milk or sugar water for the child to be able to take it easily. It should be given after food and not without food. The dose for children is decided by your doctor as per the body weight of the child. If the child vomits 30 minutes after taking Lariam, give him half dose again. If he vomits before 30 minutes after giving Lariam than give him another full dose. If vomiting continues than consult your doctor and ask for an alternative medicine in place of Lariam.
- If you are using Lariam to prevent malaria, take the first dose of Lariam one week before visiting a malaria endemic area. Take it as per direction of your doctor for the full course. You should take Lariam without missing a dose and take it on time. Remember to take Lariam at the same day and same time of every week (it is taken once a week). If you return from malaria endemic area, keep taking it for 4 more weeks after return. If you are unable to finish full course of Lariam you should consult your doctor.
- If you are taking Lariam for malaria prophylaxis, you should clearly understand that you may get malaria even if you are taking Lariam, as it is not 100% effective in preventing malaria. If you get fever you should consult your doctor as early as possible as malaria is best treated if started early.
- Get a Medication Guide that should be provided by your pharmacist. You should read it carefully before you start taking Lariam and every time you get a refill.
- If you have any question about Lariam you should ask your doctor and keep the information card always with you during your travel to malaria area.
If You Miss a Dose of Lariam
If you miss a dose of Lariam you should take it as soon as you remember. It is taken once a week to prevent malaria so if you miss you may not be protected. If you miss a dose do not take 2 doses together at a time.
How to Store Lariam
Lariam should be stored at 77 degree Fahrenheit, ideally. Storage at 59 to 86 degrees F (15 to 30 degrees C) for a brief period is allowed. Store it away from sunlight, heat and moisture. Keep Lariam out of reach of children.
More Information About Lariam
To prevent malaria other measures like use of protective clothing, insect repellent and bed nets during sleep is as important as taking Lariam for prophylaxis. Periodic laboratory tests like liver function tests should be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects. If you have any question about malaria prevention or about Lariam you should ask your doctor or other health care provider.
Precautions to be Taken While Taking Lariam
- If you have to take Lariam, you should inform your doctor if you have allergy to it, or other medicines like quinine or quinidine or if you have allergy to any other medicine. Lariam also should not be used if you have following medical conditions like depression (in the past or present), anxiety disorder, seizure disorder, or any psychiatric disorder etc.
- Lariam can cause dizziness, drowsiness or loss of balance. You should not drive, do risky works that require constant alertness or need constant monitoring, till you are sure that Lariam do not cause any problem with you.
- Before you start taking Lariam you should inform your doctor if you have any history of liver disease or heart disease.
- Lariam should be used with extreme caution in children.
- Use Lariam only if clearly indicated during pregnancy. Discuss about the risks and benefits of using Lariam during pregnancy, with your doctor. This medicine is secreted in breast milk and breast feeding is not recommended during treatment with Lariam.
Possible Adverse Effects of Lariam
- The common side effects of Lariam are stomach upset, stomach pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, strange dreams, lightheadedness etc. All these side effects generally go away as you adjust to the medicine. But if these common side effects bother you or become persistent, you should consult your doctor.
- You should inform your doctor immediately if you get any serious side effects of Lariam. The serious side effects of the medicine are seizures, muscle pain, loss of coordination, numbness and tingling of hands and legs, changes in vision, arrhythmia (: fast, slow, and irregular heartbeat) etc.
- If you get any serious side effects due to Lariam, you may need to stop the medication, consult your doctor and you may need to restart with another anti malarial drug for prophylaxis. The serious side effects are anxiety, mood changes, depression and sometimes severe depression that may include thoughts of suicide; hallucinations, restlessness, confusion etc.
- Serious allergic reaction to Lariam is unlikely, but if it occurs you should get immediate medical attention. Symptoms of allergic reaction are rash, itching, dizziness, swelling, difficulty in breathing etc.
- If you notice any side effect that is not listed above, consult your doctor urgently.