Originally Posted by Roughstuff
Let me continue with the malaria issue only because I think you should be aware of the zillions of problems that people have reported from using Mefloquine, which has its generic name, and brand name Lariam. I never took it; when I got malaria on my tour it went misdiagnosed for months, and wasn't properly treated until I got back to the US and finally received Primaquine. Before you take primaquine they'll do a test for "G6PD deficiency," or else you may in turn have problems with anemia from bursted blood cells. Most doctors use Doxycycline (above letter) as their Malaria killer.
For a malaria blood test to show 'positive,' i.e. that you actually have the disease, it is necessary that you have the blood drawn during an active attack. Don't go on the 'off days' when ya feel better,because then the parasites are hiding in your liver for their next episode.
roughstuff
About Lariam: first, let me say that I'm just in the very beginning planning stages for a very large planned tour later on, so I'll definitely see a doctor about this stuff at some point. however, i'm just trying to get a feel as to what will be necessary, and it seems like you might have an idea. Anyway, I have had a couple of friends who had severe side effects to lariam at the beginning when they began taking it (vivid hallucinations, etc.). However, my plan for my tour involves travelling from a region where malaria won't be a problem to one where it will be. Would it be prudent to take the lariam the whole time I'm on the road, or should I wait until i'm near the problem areas?