The Truth About Larium...

I wrote this post on my personal blog, but the more I think about it, the more I think it belongs here.  If you are looking for an anti-malarial, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

Almost a year ago, I went into a doctor to be put on an anti-malarial medication before going to Ghana.  He insisted that I go on a drug called Larium (Mefloquine).  Having heard various horror stories associated with the drug, I questioned him and proposed the various less risky drugs (Doxycycline, etc).  Again he claimed that Larium was the better option.  I was not too convinced, but I went with it.

The side effects were almost immediate.  From the ridiculously long list of possible problems, I was subject to extremely vivid dreams, mood swings, thoughts about death, "bizarre behavior," and once, a hallucination.  Considering the rest of them, I lucked out.  

What I did not know?  That the drug is going to stick with me.  Sure I cannot give blood for 10 years, but will I have nightmares for the same amount of time?  Why didn't I know about this?

Confused by why I am still not sleeping without riding dinosaurs, hashing out failed relationships, fighting the Hindu goddess Kali, or escaping genocide, I decided to look up some reviews.  Here is a less than comforting list of some of the comments:

Do not take this drug. It is poison.

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

I took it in 1998 for a trip to South America. Started having sleepless nights, memory loss and getting terrifying hallucinations but didn't even consider it to be conneceted because I wasn't warned about any side effects by the doctor. Then developed depression and spent hours lying in a dark room feeling like killing myself. Was prescribed Prozac, but the doctor still didn't mention any connection to Larium. It wasn't until I mentioned to a friend who told me about Larium that I checked on the web and started ticking off the side effects that I realised what had happened. Larium nearly destroyed my marriage. If I owned a gun I would be dead by now. The serious side effects lasted at leats six or seven years but I still get the odd hallucination and my short term memory is still affected. DON'T TAKE IT. USE SOMETHING ELSE

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

No question it can help prevent malaria but it may also destroy your life. Roche Pharmacueticles updated the drug literature 4 times since I took this drug. Little too late.....

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

I prepared to go to Africa for PC for over a year. They waited until the day we got on the plane to give us our first Lariam pill. No history of anxiety/depression. By the time we landed in Africa, I had social anxiety/anhedonia and could not feel any emotion besides a foreboding feeling of dread. I had anxiety every day, was in tears by the afternoon, and had pressure in my brain and intense body convulsions at night that sometimes woke me up. I could have switched to the daily stuff but the symptoms were so bad that I couldn't stay there another day. I came home and had to keep taking the Lariam for a month (I stopped after 2 weeks). Some symptoms have decreased except anhedonia. It is difficult not to contemplate suicide.

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

I stopped taking this hideous drug after three weeks when I realised what it was doing to me. I had six more months in Africa and was prepared to get malaria and treat it than suffer this drug (thankfully I didn't get it) My trip was twelve years ago and I have been an insomniac ever since! This drug should not be available to ANYONE!

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

i'd never experienced any of this until after taking lariam. now almost 2 years later, i'm still suffering the same adverse effects of this medication. the damage seems to be permanent in some cases.

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

I took lariam for 2 months while working in Sierra Leone in 2001. I was given no alternative. 6 years later I am still suffering with short term memory problems and depression which I never had before I took it. It became a joke while we were out there that everyone had a 'Lariam day' each week when they took their tablet, and on that day no-one really expected them to be able to function properly. (great, except I was in the Army on a military operation!)

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

Welcome to hell. If you want to invite Satan into your home, take Lariam. Mwahahahahahahahahahahaha........

Read more at http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=19591&name=LARIAM&ktrack=kcplink

Some people are OK on this drug. I think using it is like playing Russian roulette. Most make it, a few go under. There are much less dangerous anti-malarials around. Don't be tempted to take the chance of ruining your life with Lariam.

And the list goes on.  I am usually really resistant to drugs, but I still cannot shake these dreams.  I can never sleep enough.  Who knows what else I am suffering from because I took Larium?  If you ever need an anti-malarial and are considering Larium, let's sit down and have a conversation.