I know somebody who went to India actually had an injection for protection against malaria. When I went to my doctor for my tablets for Kenya and mentioned this she said that although it is possble it is not licenced in this country. All I can think is that the clinic concerned must be carrying this out illegally. The doctor did say it would probably be licenced here in the near future.

Just because a drug isn't licensed for use in the UK doesn't mean that it is automatically illegal to prescribe or administer it. As your own docter says it is possible in some circumstances. For example, unless a drug is licenced and has been through the NICE assessment system then it won't be available for general use on the NHS but as part of the licensing system new drugs and treatments are put through clinical and prescribing trials and it is possible that the person you know agreed to participate in one of these trials and hence received it ahead of it being licensed for general use. They would have had to sign a consent form saying that they knew it was unlicensed at the moment and that the risks had been explained to them etc but they'd have probably have got it for free at the same time.

SM

I got Malarone from an online pharmacy called travelpharm

Its a proper pharmacy and the prices are much lower than on the high street.I got advice from GP then sent prescription to travelpharm who sent the Malarone very promptly.They are staffed by properly qualified UK pharmacists.

Hope this is of use.

HI FOLKS,Dont forget the anti-malaria pills this year ,it has been an unusually long rainy season... So dont let the mossies bite if you can help it ,If they do be protected chill cheers. maxie enjoy the smiling coast

Hi I am travelling to Kenya to the sun n sand resort on July 23rd with my wife and two kids aged 3 and 12, what is the best course of action to take?

what is the best course of action to take?

Contact your GP practice or health centre and seek their advice. They will have all your medical records and make the best recommendations in the light of your health histories. The way it works at mine is that they give you a form to fill in about when and where you are travelling, you complete and hand it in and then one of the practice nurses phones a few days later and lets you know whether you need anything and the next steps to take, including making an appointment if necessary for you to come in and see them.

Malaria causes 1,000s of child deaths in Africa every year and it will be important to protect your children. One of the best ways of doing that is to make sure that they don't get bitten in the first place so take advice about a suitable and safe insect repellent and use it scrupulously, expecially at night. And check whether the hotel provides mosquito nets - if they don't I would suggest that it would be well worth taking one with you - they are usually available from specialist outdoor equipment suppliers.

On a forum like this we can share our own experiences and tell you what we took but in the end you shouldn't take anything just because of a recommendation here. Only your GP or other suitably qualified medical or pharmaceutical professional can tell you whether it is the right one for you and your intended holiday destination, especially where children are concerned.

SM

Thanks, Malarone or Lariam

If you have any past history of depression or suicidal feelings Larium is NOT for you - therefore Malarone, but make sure you discuss this with your doc, even if they just want to prescribe and get you on your way asap. Your wife and children should also think about this, and ALL of you need to take the prescribed antimalarial for its FULL COURSE including when you return.

If you dont want to spend money on the yellow fever jab or the malarone do not book. I will definitely be going to stock up on malarone at that price on my next visit. I have tried before to purchase malarone on the net but without much confidence. Its very important but the cost means some people dont bother or buy another unsuitable anti malaria tablet. Never skimp on the medication.

Hi. I'm new to this forum and wanted to read about your experiences regarding Malaria and anti-Malarial drugs as we're considering visiting either The Gambia or Goa, next year. I have to say that I'm starting to wonder whether I'll bother going at all. The Anti-Malarial drugs seem to come with quite bad side affects. Who'd want to have an upset tummy whilst on holiday, let alone hallucinations. I understand that it's far preferrable than to contract Malaria but is there anything effective to take without the side affects.

We've been to the Dominican Republic and Mexico without taking any preventative drugs apart from your usual mossie repellants but as I understand it the risk of infection in The Gambia or Goa is far greater. Am I correct. At the moment I'm in the early stages of research for our holiday and at the moment it's the Malaria tablets issue that's putting me off? Any opinions gratefully accepted. Thanks

I'm off to Kenya this week and am taking all the precautions. Cheapest place I found for Malarone was Sainsburys at £2.29 per tablet. Cheapest Yellow Fever I could find was in Superdrug at £47.00. For mossie sprays with Deet I went for Jungle Formula Tropical Use (50% Deet) and Matalan has this cheaper than Asda even! Not somewhere I would have thought of for a mossie spray.

A recent(?) post (well at the top of this page!) suggested avoiding DOXYCYCLINE as an anti-malarial. Larium is only suitable if you are staying for a month or less. Malarone for two months or less. My son has been working in Ethiopia for six months and will be shortly returning. He is working as a water and sanitation engineer for a humanitarian organisation (NGO) and has to take Doxycycline because it is the only current medication against malaria which can be given for an extended period of time.

Doxy is prinicipally an antibiotic, and as he works in water, where cholera is present, it's good to know that Doxy is the most effective drug for the treatment of cholera.

Again, please don't skimp on anti-malarials. OK so tummy ache and other temporary issues are no picnic but FAR better than the disease itself. And you know why you aren't feeling tickety-boo so you don't have to panic about why you feel a bit odd .............. and not everyone experiences such side effects.

Also, don't believe that because you have never had any problems and have travelled extensively in the region so you think you are naturally immune! One of my nieces was born and lived permanently in Kenya all her life until she came to university in the UK and got malaria on her return home for a family visit.

So forewarned is forearmed. These drugs - antimalarials and anti-cholera - are an essential part of your holiday preparations and expenses. Of course there will be always those who boast that they didn't take precautions and didn't get the disease, but .................... is it worth playing russian roulette with your life, especially if you think of your family and loved ones?

We will be in Mombasa in three weeks time, have had all the jabs yellow fever £45 each, The Nurse at the surgery recommended Doxycycline for Malaria no side affects and only £24 each for our 2 weeks, the down side is that you have to take them 1week before and 4weeks after, We can put up with that.

Alan

AL38,

I use Malarone. They have minimal side effects (I had none) and you only need to take them for 2 days prior to travelling, while you are there and 7 days after you return. They're a little more at about £2.10 per tablet, but you don't have to take them for weeks after you come home; 23 days for 2 week holiday rather than 49 days. Personally, I'd rather pay the extra to avoid having to take tablets for 7 weeks.

Darren

Hi Darren.
You are very lucky not to get any side effects but a lot of people do, is it worth the risk ? a report on another Forum said most of the hotel were ill and blamed the food (perhaps it was?) but he & his family stopped taking Malarone and recovered.
As the nurse recommended them it would be silly not to take her advice, and it saved us nearly £50, cant be bad

Alan

AL38,

Everyone is different and of course you should always take professional medical advice. However, Malarone have some of the least side-effects but of course everyone reacts differently. Of all the times I've taken it and of all those that I've known take it, I've never seen or known of any issues. It's whatever is best for you personally really. The travel practitioners up where I am at least always recommened Malarone. All I was saying is that I'd rather only take prophylactics for 23 days rather than 49.

Darren

GPs refer to the NHS website Fit for Travel when deciding on the best anti malaria tablets to issue.
fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx
Find your destination, see if areas you are going to are coloured "red" (substantial risk), than on the country page look at the "Malaria Precautions" where the most effective malaria medication is listed

Malarone is a branded drug and not yet available generically - so will be expensive wherever you buy it. There will likely be counterfeit medicines in 3rd world pharmacies (there is even some on the shelves of UK pharmacists!)
Lots of malaria info here too: antimalariatablets.co.uk

I've just had my yellow fever jab and while i was at the doctors they gave me a list of places on the internet which is safe to buy from and they are much cheaper then the travel clinic at my doctors.

I've always found Boots online pharmacy to be the cheapest for Malarone, by a long way. You just download and fill in the order form from their website and send it to them with payment along with your private prescription. I had them back within 4 days and saved quite a bit.

Darren