Hi

Avlochlor is 250mg Chloroquine Phosphate which is equivalent to 150mg Chloroquine.

Nivaquine is 200mg Chloroquine Sulphate wich is also equivalent to 150mg Chloroquine.

Yes there is a Nivaquine Syrup which is 50mg Chloroquine per 5ml.

Chloroquine should not be taken if you have Psoriasis or Epilepsy, sufferers should take Proguanil ( supplied as Paludrine tablets ).

Hope that clarifies things

Scubaman

Thanx for clearing that up scubaman

We just went into our local pharmacy and asked which was best...

Just started taking my Malaria tablets yesterday. ohhhhhh ther'e horrid!
It didnt get any sickness for some reason though. Im not complaining!!

Just returned last week. We did take tablets (and still are). You can buy them cheaply over the counter in Boots.

We also took loads of repellant (try and get stuff containing DEET) you can get this in Boots too, together with a plug in mosquito repellant. I usually get bitten alive abroad and take a nasty reaction to them. This year, got three bites in total, and it was all on the last night when i had unplugged the mozzy repellant to pack it away, but saying that didn't take the same reaction as usual. I managed to buy a "clicker" before i went. I got it in ASDA but have seen them in Boots also. Its a little electrical device that you hold over the bite and "click" Not sure how it works, but we used it and it was great - took away any itch and prevented any flare up.

Robbie10,
Tell us more about the "clicker". How much does it cost, can it be used by more than one person, is it run on batteries and is "clicker" the real name for it? It sounds great.
Lorraine

Lorraine - have absolutely no idea the real name for it! Yes, me and my husband used it. It doesn't have batteries and apparently it can give up to 20,000 clicks! You hold it on to your skin on the bite and "click". You repeat this until you feel some relief. I bought ours from Asda and it cost around £3.00. I don't know where you are flying from, but when we left from Glasgow, the Boots store at the airport had them and i have also seen them in Boots shops in town. If it doesn't work, it's not as though you are spending a fortune, so it's worth a try. Hope you don't need to use it though!
Lesley

Here is a link to a site which sells clickers so you can see what they are all about :

http://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/product.asp?id=CLI1

You can also get similar looking "pens" which are based on TENS machine technology although they are more expensive at around £50.

Scubaman

Please note that we also have a "Malaria Medications and Q&As" topic in our General Holiday Enquiries Fourum:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12181

David

Heading to Cancun at the start of September. Do i need to have any vaccinations done or are these optional. Flying from Glasgow

Any info much appreciated

Hi,

Similar to earlier post - heading to Dom Rep in September are vaccinations necessary (or should I say mandatory) and if you don't have them could it invalidate your insurance in any way if things go wrong?

Advice would be much appreciated.
Claire

Hi Graeme,

I'm looking for similar information on Dom Rep but regardless of what the answer is, you may be interested to know that Glasgow Airport have a vaccination clinic. I get the feeling it is cheaper to go there rather than your own GP (although I've not checked this out yet.) You can contact then on 0141 848 4800 - It was recommended to me by my own GP so I'm surmising it is cheaper.
Regards
ClaireT

Should also have mentioned, when contacting my GP, I was advised that any vaccinations should be received at least 8 weeks before travelling.
ClaireT

We went to Mexico last year and had to have a couple of vaccinations. From memory we needed Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Maleria tablets not necessary unless 'backpacking'.

Also, I work in a GP practice and yes, ideally vacs should start 8 weeks before you go to get full course completed before travel, but as long as you start them you should be ok. Cancun is not exactly third world and hotels usually very high standard etc. Don't forget to complete course then you will be covered for 3 years for Typhoid and 10 years for Hep A.

Go back to your GP. Vaccines are available FREE on the NHS (you may be charged for a certificate) and if your GP does not keep vacs in stock, you may be given prescription to take to chemist and have to pay current prescription charge. But even so, LOT cheaper that holiday travel clinics at airports etc.

All vaccines are recommended NOT compulsary, but in my opinion, it would be foolish not to have them.

Have a great time
Sue

Vaccines for Mexico are Hep A and Typhoid. Don't worry about the timing too much. There is a combined Hep A and Typhoid jab for the anti-needle brigade and is cheaper if you go to the travel clinics, if you do go to the docs, they may charge you. I'm an NHS pharmacy student and i've just had mine and it cost a few quid(no staff perks).
The timings of these jabs are basically to make sure you do not have a bad reaction. You're immunity should kick in very quick.
Side effects: The Hep A hurts like mad and your arm stings and goes numb for a while. There may be a mild/severe rash with the typhoid if you have them administered seperately.
Yuck. Hate needles. Malaria tabs can make you quite sick, and it depends on the areas you are visiting. But this is one where you'll have to weigh up the pros and cons first. Preventing bites is the better option for some people. If you go to a travel clinic, they may try to persuade you to have them. Ask your practice nurse or local pharmacist. They have the most up-to-date info.
Happy, safe, bug free holidays.

We went to Dom Rep this summer.

Booked as a last minute deal. When I contacted our surgery they told me that as I was going at such short notice the vaccinations may not have time to really take effect and offer full protection but they strongly advised me to have them not just for my health, but that if I didnt then i may have problems with insurance if I needed to claim.

They advised Tetanus cover if not protected already and Tyhoid and Hepatitis A. My surgery gave me 2 separate injections for the Typhoid and Hep A but my hubby got away with just the one as his surgery offered a combined vaccination for them both

Would strongly recommend having them as my mum has had to make an insurance claim as she was ill the whole time we were away. There was some sort of virus which affected loads of people in the hotel. At least she has been able to say she took the necessary health precautions before travelling.

Its down to you really...personally I think they are worth having...best to be safe than sorry but most importantly take your maleria pills

For advice on which immunisations are recommended see :

http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk

which has loads of other interesting and helpful information too.

Malaria tablets are a must in my opinion as there are outbreaks from time to time which you cannot predict in advance.

Why risk malaria for the sake of a few tablets and a few pounds when you are spending hundreds of pounds on your holiday ?

Be healthy, don't take chances and enjoy

Scubaman

Hi,

Off to Domican Republic in 4 weeks and just had our first set of jabs this afternoon. The doctor recommended we take a course of Malaria tablets. He gave us two choices Chloroquine which is cheap to prescribe but can have some nasty side effects and Malarone which is very expensive to prescribe and has no side effects.

Does anyone have any experience of taking Chloroquine or Malarone and what were your side effects if any? Was the doctor trying to push us the more expensive Malarone over the cheap Chloroquine?

Many thanks,

B