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Malaria Tablets |
 Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:16 pm |
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| I had my travel assesment last week at my GPs. Got told all the jabs i need/should have and it mounting up nice and pricey.
I'm travelling to Tanzania, Africa so as you can imagine i need the full works and then on to thailand as well. I got told the best malaria tablets are Malarone (Prophylaxis) but being so overwhelmed already by everything i was told i forgot to ask the price but from what she was making out they aint cheap (perhaps it was the fear for my bank account that made me not ask) So ive googled it but am getting up prices like £2.50 a tablet which is making my poor bank account cry!! Can anyone give me any advice or guidelines of prices please? Any one with experience what did you take? I know there are cheaper alternatives but apparently they come with more side affects. Clearly i will have to book another appointment to cover the grey areas but if any one could give me a little advice or info or experiences i would appreciate it!! Thanks! |
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 6:27 pm |
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| I've just paid for mine today using travelpharm.com i got a 14 malarone tablets for £31.50 which is best price so far that i found. I only need them for Krugar National Park in South Africa as everywhere else I'm heading is malaria free or so I have been told.
Got quotes on boots online for £32, normal boots instore pharamacy £39 and Tesco £35 You need a prescription for both Maralone and Doxycycline (the other ones you can get) Doxy is much cheaper 14p per tablet on travelpharm but I have heard about more side effects, Malaronw is about £2.25 - £2.50 per tablet. Depends on how many you are going to need with Malarone I think 2 tablets taken before you eneter malaria zone then everyday whilst your there then 7 days after. Doxy - I cannot remember how many before but you have to keep taking them a month after or so when you have left malaria areas. Hope this helps, ask your docs about side effects and what would be better for you on your travels |
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:09 pm |
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| Malarone is the new 'wonder drug' which the pharmaceutical companies are promoting. They spend millions wining and dining medical professions to promote this stuff.
I can't say that it isn't 'the best', because it probably is, but from the research I have carried out and having had a frank conversation with my GP, I believe Doxy to be a highly effective and much more cost effective option. It also can be taken for longer periods than Malarone. While I was travelling, most people took doxy. One one person had a problem with it when they felt sick one morning, but this was due to taking it on an empty stomach. Once they made sure they took it after a meal they had no problems. Apparently it can make you 'photosensitive' but as most people need to wear sunscreen anyway, it's difficult to say if you're photosensitive. If you're travelling in a malarial area for any reasonable length of time then Doxy makes far more sense. Malarone might do for those going on a weeks holiday, but not so practical if you're in a malarial region for many weeks or months. I wouldn't take the doctors initial advice as read. I would try and do further research for yourself and then discuss it with your doctor. |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 12:48 pm |
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| Thanks very much for the tips guys!
Im off to Tanzania for 2 months so i think Malarone are a bit out of the question. But my doctor scared me a bit by saying you can get photosensative dyharea and nausea and my first thought was god i dont want that when im travelling on my own. She gave me a perscription for 2 malarone tablets to see if i reacted to them. What i may do is see if i can get some Doxy trial tablets before i go and see if i react extremely badly to them. But my bank account is screaming Doxy and as long as they do the same job i dont see the problem. Thanks again guys! |
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:23 pm |
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| My understanding (I have no professional knowledge) is that Doxy is still recognised as being highly effective if taken as directed. You need to take for 4 weeks after leaving a malarial area, so potentially more risky than Malarone (from a GPs point of view) as people are more likely to be stop taking them while still at risk. For women it can be a problem if taken with the pill, but very few people have major side effects.
When I was travelling (2004-5), it was Larium which everyone was worried about the side effects of as it can cause hallucinations. GPs used to like this tablet as it only needs to be taken once a week; again reducing risk of not being taken. Check out prices locally, but I've found travelpharm.com excellent value for money and a great service. They're based in Dorset. |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 2473 Posts |
| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 3:09 pm |
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| Thats great thank you very much. I will look around and check out local prices think i might book another appointment with the GP just to run through it all again to. Like you said also i'll look into it a bit more online.
My boyfriends sister also went to thailand and took anti malaria tablets so i think i will enquire which she took though she went for a shorter period. As you said it may be a abit of a nuisense taking the tablets for a month after but if im taking them every day whilst im there i think i can manage for another month. Also i already take allergy tablets daily so should remember i hope. I think more research needs to be done on my behalf but thanks so much for the info!! |
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:55 am |
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My boyfriends sister also went to thailand and took anti malaria tablets so i think i will enquire which she took though she went for a shorter period. Thailand I dont think is a malaria area, my nurse said I didn't need them for Thailand but for Cambodia and Laos its different Maybe each practise is different but a good website that mine use to check is http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 484 Posts |
| Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 2:12 pm |
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| Yeah my nurse said you only need them if you go towards the outter edges of Thailand but at the moment i dont really know where i'll be going bangkok of course but from there i'll just see where the mood takes me but ofcourse all the beaches are on the outter edges so might just be on the safe side and take them.
Ooo yeah thanks very much i remember the nurse mentioning that website!  |
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| Back to top | Location: Unknown | 67 Posts |
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