Malaria tablets

Malaria tablets are available on prescription by a doctor only. Possible side effects are usually mild in nature.

The following tablets can be used to prevent malaria.

Attention, medicines containing only artemisinin and plant extracts or tea with artemisinin are insufficiently effective.

Atovaquone/Proguanil 250/100mg (e.g. Malarone®)

• Take one tablet per day.
• Start one day prior to arrival in the malaria area and continue for seven days after leaving the area.
• Take the tablet with a fatty meal, or with a drink containing milk.
• Take at the same time each day.
• Atovaquone/proguanil can also be used as treatment or  emergency treatment.
• Can be used for children from 5 kg. View the adjusted dose.
• There is data on the use during pregnancy. Use is only permitted if there are no good alternatives.
• Use is permitted during breastfeeding.  

 Doxycycline 100 mg

• Take one tablet of 100 mg or half a tablet of 200 mg per day.
• Start one day prior to arrival in the malaria area and continue for four weeks after leaving the area.
• Take with plenty of fluids or during a meal, at the same time each day. Do not take these tablets with milk.
• Doxycycline can sometimes result in fungal infections of the mouth and genitalia and can cause a phototoxic skin rash. Protect yourself against the sun by wearing covering clothes and using a sun block.
• Can be used for children from 8 years of age. View the adjusted dose.
• Following consultation with an expert doctor, this medication is in certain conditions permitted during the first trimester of the pregnancy.
• Preferably not whilst breastfeeding.   

Mefloquine 250 mg (Lariam ®)

• Take one tablet per week, on a fixed day.
• Start three weeks prior to arrival in the malaria area and continue for four weeks after leaving the area.
• Take the tablet in the evening with the meal.
• If you have used mefloquine in the past and did not experience side effects and there is not enough time prior to departure, then you can divide the first three tablets over the days remaining before departure and take the fourth tablet on the day of arrival in the malaria area.
• If you have never taken mefloquine before, then you must start taking it three weeks before departure to test whether you can tolerate this medication. Any side effects - such as palpitations, heart rhythm abnormalities, insomnia and psychological problems - usually develop at the start of the treatment.
• Mefloquine can sometimes cause sleep disorders, palpitations, convulsions and psychological side effects.
• If you develop severe side effects, you must stop taking mefloquine immediately and switch to atovaquone/proguanil or doxycycline.
• Always take the warning card with your doctor’s contact details with you.
• Can be used for children from 5 kg. View the adjusted dose.
• Permitted for pregnant women and whilst breastfeeding.  

Different schedules and different medicines are used for the treatment of malaria.

General measures to prevent malaria.