This holiday I am going on a trip to Indonesia and to prevent malaria I have to take pills. The two most common pills are Lariam and Malarone, both of which were recommended to me by the GGD. However, there are many nasty stories floating around about Lariam related to side effects and hallucinations. But Lariam does have a better price and you only have to take it weekly. Is that an advantage anyway? Read an extensive summary of everything related to Lariam and Malarone here.

Malaria

You can get the malaria infection from the infamous malaria mosquito. You can protect yourself against this mosquito by applying DEET, wearing long-sleeved clothes and sleeping with a mosquito net. However, if you develop symptoms of an infection you should go to a hospital as soon as possible. The symptoms consist of:

• Febrile attacks
• Cold shivers
• Vomit

Today, however, you can greatly reduce the risk of malaria by taking malaria pills. In this article I will discuss the two most popular malaria pills recommended by the GGD in the Netherlands.

Lariam

In brief:

• 13 euros per month use
• To be swallowed once a week
• Start taking at least 8 days in advance
• More side effects
• Many bad experiences with hallucinations and insomnia
• Not for people with epilepsy, psychoses and depression
• Not for divers due to balance disorders.
• Not for pregnant women*
• Not for children weighing less than 5 kg*

Extensive information

Lariam is the brand name for Mefloquine. This drug provides resistance to Malaria. Mosquitoes can become resistant to Lariam over time, but in general Lariam is used together with Malarone because the mosquitoes have become resistant to other substances. You must take Lariam once a week and start at least 8 days before your trip. You then take another pill every week. However, it is recommended to start 3 weeks in advance, so that you can discover any side effects and perhaps switch to Malarone. Pregnant women and children weighing less than 5 kilograms should not use Lariam.The biggest advantage of Lariam is the price. At 13 euros per month, and a similar fee to request the prescription, it is more than 6 times cheaper than Malarone. An advantage may be that you have to take it once a week, but it appears to be easier to incorporate taking pills into a routine because you are then less likely to forget, which makes this a disadvantage compared to Malarone. However, the biggest disadvantage is the side effects. Although medical data speak of only 5% side effects among users, you hear many stories, both via the Internet and through acquaintances, of anxiety attacks, hallucinations and insomnia. That is why many people choose Malarone. If you want to save costs, I advise most people to start 3 weeks in advance, so you can avoid the side effects and if nothing happens you will have saved some money.

Malarone

In brief:

• 90 euros per month use
• Take daily
• Start taking at least 1 day in advance until 7 days after the holiday
• Fewer side effects
• Can be used everywhere unless mosquitoes are resistant to malarone
• Not for pregnant women*
• Not for children weighing less than 11 kg*

Extensive information

Malarone is the brand name for a combination of atovaquone and proguanil. This pill should be taken daily (not every other day!) and is also useful because you only have to start taking it the day before your holiday. However, it is necessary to continue taking it for a week after the holidays. Malarone ensures that the parasites and infections can be killed every day, so it must be taken every day. Pregnant women and children weighing less than 11 kilograms should not use Malarone.The biggest advantage of Malarone over Lariam is that there are hardly any side effects. A major disadvantage is the price, Malarone is much more expensive than Lariam, of course you need 7 times as much.

Conclusion

If you have enough money, the safe option is always Malarone, simply because there are almost no known side effects. Malarone is also friendlier towards a larger target group; divers, people with conditions. If you want to save money, I recommend that you start taking Lariam three weeks in advance. If you like it, continue taking it, otherwise you unfortunately switch to Malarone. After all, it is not worth it to ruin a holiday costing more than 1000 euros for 80 euros. Always ask the GGD for advice regarding personal complaints. This article was merely intended to summarize the sea of small pieces of information in a concise piece in a clear manner. I wish you a pleasant journey!*Ask the GGD for advice for small children or pregnant women.