You need to make sure you have the right tablet for the strain of malaria prevalent in Goa, Malarone is not the one normally recommended. Always best to check with the pharmacist.

Goan Recommended malaria tablets are 17.99 at boots. Quoted 15.50 at the chemist. My Pharacist was also willing to split a packet of tablets, especially as we are going for 3 weeks. Boots just want to sell you the whole packet.

Check your local pharmacist , as well as boots. Don't not consider Malaria tablets, if you do, you are just crazy. Vitamin B12 and garlic tablets , or tonic in your Gin are not the best way to prevent Malaria.

Lisa

I take malarone because I can't take P&C.

Interestingly my friend who is going later this year was told at a well known chemist that she didn't need any for Goa this year! (She didn't take their advice!)

I'm hoping that by the end of the week that I will be able to post an accurate report on malaria etc as I'm going to see our microbioligist and talk to a Dr from tropical diseases.

All the questions have got my interest going on malaria, sad i know but makes a change from ankle injuries etc!!

Hello! There is a significant Malaria risk for visitors to Goa, especially those staying North of Panjim.

I always use Travelpharm (INVALID URL for my anti-malarials. 7 strips of P&C are £12.60 including delivery and their service is excellent.

Don't risk not taking them - just back from my GP, he's had a patient only yesterday with Malaria (after a 2 week Goan holiday).

I would never tell people not to take anti malaria drugs.But how many actualy take them as prescribed.You are supposed to take them a week before you go,while you are there ,and two weeks after you return.My guess is that most take them properly until they get home then,thinking they are ok don't bother to take the full course,making the tablets ineffective.That's why after coming here for 15 years we never take them.

John

Yes we take malarone, used them in january for goa. going to use them again next month, no side affects, and was told that they are still fine for strain of malaria in goa at the moment.You will need a private percripiton from your doctor, usualy about £10. Hope this helps. Gel

be it right or wrong i buy the ones from the goan chemist

Same as Green eyed lady.

We got prescription off of drs and sent away from them online. No problems taking them at all....and yes..they WERE ok for that particular strain of malaria in Goa.

Malarone is ok for the strain in Goa but I do not think you can get it for £10 , that is only the cost of the prescription ,the price is usually why people don't use it (about £60 i think) ,it is supposed to have minimal side effects.

Yes thats correct Debgreg!

£10 which was quoted was for PRIVATE prescription only!

I got ours online and got them cheaper than over the counter, still expensive but what price do you put on your health?

Our dr never charged us for the prescription BUT when I put all medication into the online pharmacy they contacted me as my husband is on warfarin. He told me that a lot of gps DON'T realise that malarone affects the levels of warfarin, and to contact our gp again.

He was absolutely correct and husband had to start taking them a week or so BEFORE normal starting point - and had to have his blood checked to see if it was affecting the thickness of his blood. Otherwise...he would have to have blood tests while out in Goa and adjust his warfarin accordingly. The results came back that it WASN'T affecting the doseage he was taking so there was no need for him to get tested while out in Goa. However, on our return, his warfarin level was all over the place and it took him some months to get it back to the normal level.

I have tried several tablets for malaria but all, other than malarone, gave me side effects. I know malarone are expensive but well worth every penny. I got malaria, not in Goa but in Africa, and was very poorly to say the least, and spent 2 weeks in hospital being treated for it. I have to take anti malaria tablets because if I became ill again with it........ Also, it was not until I returned from Africa did I become ill, so I would just suggest to anyone that stops taking tablets when they get home that they would be wise to keep taking them once they return, as perscribed by your GP.
Can I ask if anyone has been been able to get Malarone online, and if so, how much have you paid. I am going out to Goa for 8 weeks and the tablts are going to cost 150 pounds.

THINK it was something like £2.25 per tablet!

Alfred60 I think someone on another site said that asda do malarone for about £2.10, dont know if they are still selling them at that price. Hope this helps. gel

Regarding some pharmacist telling people that they dont need malaria tablets ours told us his records are only updated once a year but our local health center nurse says they are updated once a month so i think some pharmacists ar,nt up to date also am i right in saying there are other strains which have no prevention or should that be cure such as dengi fever (bet i spelt it wrong)last year there was an outbreak of this around delhi area and i think i read there was not a lot you can do except try not to get bitten creams and so on , but the bottom line is when its your time so i wont be worrying just enjoy goa slan(cheers)

I'm sure Malarone is only available with prescription in UK. Can you get Malarone in Goa?

no you can't get Malarone in Goa, it is only available on a private prescription from your GP

Alfred60 - i bought Malarone from Travelpharm on internet last january for 2.10 per tablet

hope this helps

I can confirm jcbrum that we take the full course weekly and daily and start 1 wk before we go whislt there and 4 wks when we leave. We have been holidaying in Goa for the past 9 years and have always taken them.

Regarding malarone I ask at Johnnys chemist a couple of years ago about buying malarone in Goa as we were going to Gambia later in the year and guess they would be a lot cheaper than the £2 odd we had been quoted in UK and his reply was that they didnt sell them in Goa as they didnt protect against the strain of malaria in goa.

We are always giddy when we start taking the tablet as we know it wont be long time we are back in Goa but it is a pain when we get back.......but better safe than sorry. We bring back a couple of weeks worth to tablets to get us there and cover they 1st couple of days before we need to head to chemist.

Jules

We buy our Paludrine(proguanil hyd) and Avloclor(chloroquine phos) in Goa every year for the following year. The only difference being that the Avloclor is double UK strength so we only need to take 1 a week instead of 2, the Paludrine are the same strength as UK so it is still 2 daily. So cheap to buy in Goa and usually have a long 'use by 'date. We personally would never consider not taking anti malaria tablets but we do always take them last thing at night to avoid any possible unwanted side affects.
Paula

Just bought ours from Asda today for £15.50 for seven week course. One week before, two weeks in Goa and then for four weeks back at home. Always take them at bedtime and have never noticed (touch wood) any side effects. Bought them for one and will get the rest on arrival.