Mefloquine (Systemic)

Brand Names : Lariam

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For mefloquine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to mefloquine, quinidine (e.g., Quinidex), quinine, or any related medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - It is best if pregnant women can avoid traveling to areas where there is a chance of getting malaria. However, if travel is necessary, mefloquine may be used for women traveling to areas where the parasite is resistant to chloroquine. Pregnant women are advised to report to their doctor any side effects following the use of mefloquine.

Breast-feeding - Mefloquine passes into the breast milk in small amounts. However, the amount in breast milk is not enough to prevent the infant from getting malaria. Mefloquine could cause unwanted effects in the breast-fed baby. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding while taking mefloquine. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children - Children should avoid traveling to areas where there is a chance of getting malaria, unless they can take effective antimalarial medicines such as mefloquine. Studies on this medicine have not been done in infants below the age of 6 months old.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of mefloquine in the elderly with use in other age groups. However, elderly people may be more sensitive to the adverse effects of mefloquine which may require caution.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking mefloquine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticonvulsants (carbamazepine [e.g., Tegretol, Carbatrol], phenobarbital [e.g., Luminal], phenytoin [e.g., Dilantin], valproic acid [e.g., Depakote]) - Effects of the anticonvulsant (medicine to stop or reduce effects of seizures) not work as well. Your doctor may need to change your dose of anticonvulsant medicine.

• Chloroquine (e.g., Aralen) - Use of chloroquine with mefloquine may increase the chance of convulsions (seizures)

• Halofantrine (e.g., Halfan) - use of halofantrine together with mefloquine may cause serious heart problems
• Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) or
• Quinine - Use of these medicines together with mefloquine may result in slow heartbeat and other heart problems; also, an increased chance of convulsions (seizures) may occur when quinine is taken together with mefloquine

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of mefloquine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Allergy to mefloquine or similar medicines such as quinine and quinidine or
• Psychiatric conditions such as
  • Active depression or recent history of depression or
  • Generalized anxiety disorder or
  • Psychosis or
  • Schizophrenia or
  • Other major psychiatric disorders
• Convulsions, history of - Mefloquine should not be taken if you have any of these conditions.

• Depression previous history of - Mefloquine should be used with caution.

• Epilepsy or
• Seizure disorder - Mefloquine may make these conditions worse.
• Heart conditions or
  Liver problems - Mefloquine should be used with caution.