LARIAM Reviews (MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE)Average Rating: 1.2 (149 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare LARIAM with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Age oldest to youngest. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on LARIAM: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LARIAM | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 1 | to prevent malaria | horrifying dread, depersonalization, psychosis for two weeks, then two years of psychosis that began 8 years afterwards | I came out of two years of psychosis seven years ago thanks to taking armodafinil, that my doctor had prescribed to treat what she thought was narcolepsy. I still take Nuvigil and haven't had any other psychotic episodes or deep depression for seven years now. I hope other doctors will prescribe this drug to veterans suffering from Lariam-related psychosis. | F | 75 | 4 months 1X W | 8/20/2016 | 5 | African Travel | None whatsoever. | My wife and I have taken courses of Larium for 15 years at least for all our Travel to Malarial area. We have never had any doubts as to its efficacy and have never suffered any of the 'famous' side effects. This is NOT to play down those that have had problems, but the same can be said of Malarone. Many many people of my aquaintence have taken Larium without any problems at all. There is no doubt that some people are affected but many many more are not. As to the comments regarding not taking whilst pregnant, and contraception whilst on Larium, this is just common sense and clearly marked on the leaflets. ANY drug that goes into the blood stream will of course pass to a child in the womb and the same applies to Alcohol and Nicotine. My suggestion to those asking is "try a tablet" well ahead of your trip and this will give the opportunity to switch if you are one of the unlucky ones that do suffere a reaction. | M | 70 | 15 years | 5/25/2009 | 1 | Avoid Malaria | Confusion, loss of balance, loss of memory, inability to sleep,"black outs"slurred speech. sicidal ideation and attempted suiced, severe debilitating depression, lack of coordination.These are just a few of the horrors I still live with. Would I EVER recommend Lariam? NEVER. NEVER!NEVER! | F | 70 | 7 weeks 1X day | 6/28/2010 | 1 | Trip to Kenya | Within days of arriving in Kenya my body became one enourmous blister. From head to foot every inch was covered with bubbles of blisters. For the first week I had to keep my entire body covered and remain in the shade. I stopped taking it and things subsided quite quickly. It does say on the packet that a skin reaction is a side effect. | There have to be better drugs. | M | 70 | 4 weeks 30 1X day | 7/13/2010 | 1 | African Safari | Still suffering, since 2002:Severe depression,suicidal ideation,loss of memory,balance,concentration,word retrieval.Confusion,slurred speech,"black outs".On & on...... | Would NEVER recommend Lariam..It has changed my life forever in so many ways, I don't have enough room to write the ways. | F | 70 | 6 weeks 250 1X day | 9/11/2010 | 1 | Malaria prevention | 2 years in Central African Republic, 1 year in Indonesia, 2 years in Guinea-Bissau. 1991-93, 1995-98. Initially all we had was the "Mefloquine Dreams". I did end up with Malaria in 1992 anyway. In 2001 diagnosed with drop foot in the left foot. In 2004 Began having problems with dizziness. Checked out as far as an MRI with no potential causes found. Continued dizziness until a year ago when vertigo and intermittent tinnitus were added to the dizziness and tripping over my own foot. Visits to ENT and Neuro with no cause or cure. I'm going to try the VA and see what they might find. | Lariam and its generic version in Mefloquine have both been "Black Boxed" by the FDA. If I had known then what I know now, I NEVER WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE STUFF | M | 67 | 5 years 250 1X W | 11/28/2013 | 1 | Malaria prevention | Anxiety attacks | I have stopped taking it but the anxiety continues | F | 64 | 6 weeks 250 mg 1X day | 2/12/2011 | 1 | As a preventitive | Traumatic brain injury (TBI) with permanent injury to the vestibular system and to the brain centers that filter out stimuli. Acute insomnia, major depression, and brain seizures. | As a 30-year federal agent in the peak of physical and psychological condition, I took this drug as a prophylaxis. It is a chemical poison whose creators, the researchers at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute, fully admit that they have NO IDEA what the drug does inside the human brain. Those of us who have suffered its horrific toxicity know well that it causes permanent damage to multiple areas of the brain. Avoid it at all costs as a malaria preventative and choose either MALARONE or DOXYCLYCLINE. | M | 63 | 9 weeks 30 1X W | 6/19/2010 | 1 | TRIP TO KENYA | Took the first and only pill in the morning. Severe panic attack ensued accompanied by the sensation of a black cloud coming down around me with a feeling of gloom and despair which persisted for months. It was seven years ago but looking back feel changed as a result. I now get bouts of depression and cry easily. Give Africa a miss. | M | 61 | 1 days | 12/3/2008 | 1 | malaria Prevention | 1994-1995 ....Following day after first dose I felt very I'll and stressed, not knowing what was wrong with me... I couldn't relax... and this feeling has sort of stayed with me. Virtually continuous use for 10 months. Continued suffering from fatigue, ANXIETY, disorientation, dizzyness, lack of concentration, headaches always the day after taking each pill ( I called it my Lariam Headache) , alternating between hot and cold within minutes, depression ( treated with seroxat causing more problems and Very Vivid dreams/nightmares) hospitalised in Abidjan for 3 days and all basic tests for illness proved negative. I have never got back to the feelings of peace and relaxation that I used to take for granted before I took this devastating poison. | On subsequent much shorter visits to Africa, I used Malarone, which did not appear to have any significant side effects !!! DO NOT TAKE LARIAM !!! | M | 58 | 10 months 1X W | 7/23/2011 | 1 | prevent malaria on holiday to India | nausea, stomache ache, general feeling of ill health | i wouldn't recommend it. Side effects came on very quickly. I've decided to go back to using the two tablets I had before when I went as I feel so ill. I thought it would be good only having one tablet per week as the other type give me stomach problems too but not as bad I've found | F | 56 | 1 days 1X W | 3/2/2011 | 1 | trip to Guyana to prevent malaria | Felt revved up for a couple of days with some confusion. Then became so sick with flue-like symptoms couldn't get out of bed for a day. Seemed to get better in the morning but that night couldn't sleep because of non-stop indigestion that didn't respond to over-the-counter meds. Quit taking after one dose. | I'd say stay away from this one. It's the worst experience I've ever had on any medicine by far. How the heck it's on the market is beyond me. | M | 55 | 1 weeks standard 1X day | 7/27/2010 | 4 | Employment in West Africa | No problems other than unpleasant taste when taken. | Have used intermittantly for around 20 years, but currently 2 years continuous. | M | 54 | 2 years 1X W | 5/20/2014 | 1 | Anti malaria prophylactic | Worst possible serious adverse reaction, including in acute stage after 3rd tablet hallucinations, delirium, confusion, acted out on these confused thoughts and nearly got lost in Kthmandu hills while travelling with friends. Had to be hospitalised under 24 hour supervision until my sister came to bring me back to Australia. I thought I was going to die had to be given heavy duty anti psychotics. When I got home I was a 'vegetable' could barely talk, or move. Everything tasted strange I slept a lot & over months of recovery experienced fatigue, anxiety, agoraphobia, nightmares. drs said I would recover but I did not. Twelve years later I suffer severe fatigue anxiety, PTSD plus many symptoms too long to recount here!! | LARIAM is a medication which should not be given to anyone unless they are under strict medical super vision in a hospital. Giving this medicine to people who are travelling is absurd given the high rate of adverse effects!!!! Don't take this medicine it has been banned by the Australian Military & other similar organisations. It should not be on the market!!!! Roche should be sued till they are out of business they have ruined my life I cannot work am being cared for by my 78 year old mother I will be a burden on the state soon I hate Roche for what they have done to me!!! | F | 54 | 3 weeks 1X W | 4/5/2014 | 1 | Doctor prescribed for anti-malaria | Insomnia, nausea, headache, burning in the brain, noise in the brain, anxiety, depression, body alternating between cold and hot temperatures, body drying-up and scaling, visual aberration, lights too bright, body aches. | I am much better now. It has taken nearly 7 months of treatment using extensive alternative therapy - Ayurveda medicines, Yoga, Pranayam breathing, body massage, Chinese medicine, accupunture, etc. My GP (doctor) and the neurologist here in Australia were unable to determine the cause. | M | 54 | 9 weeks 250mg 1X W | 6/17/2010 | 1 | malaria | major depression, anxiety disorder, sleep problems, teeth grinding (bruxism), chronic fatigue, mood swings, personality changes, aggression, suicidal ideation, brain fog, diminished capacity, impulse control problems, anger control problems, | MY ARMY UNIT at FORT BRAGG NC was ordered to take LARIAM (mefloquine) when we were on alert to try to rescue the US hostages in Iran in Nov. 1979. No one told us we were being used as guinea pigs for an experimental drug without our knowledge or consent. No one ever asked us if we had any side effects after Within a few days, paranoia and anxiety started, and within a few weeks, I had full-blown cycling between major depression and violent mood swings, and I have NEVER been the same since. But because I didn't know what happened to me, I went 20 years undiagnosed and untreated, and I have now been on max dose anti-depressants since 2000. Symptoms get worse with age, and I am no longer able to work. When I finally knew from research it was Lariam, in 2008 I applied for VA disability, but after 4 YEARS the VA & BVA STILL will not give me an answer!!! | M | 54 | 1 days megadose 1X day | 4/28/2012 | 1 | Travel anti malarial | Psychosis anxiety chronic fatigue it has ruined my life it's been 11 years I still haven't recovered its been so bad nearly committed suicide | F | 54 | 3 weeks | 7/17/2013 | 1 | Charity work Africa | Anxiety, depression, agitation,facial spasms, loss of energy and motivation for 1 1/2 years, hallucianations, screaming in sleep, nerve pains in skin, suicidal thoughts | I had never had any of these symptoms until after taking this drug. The first occasion I took it I was more or less ok, but subsequent trips the symptoms appeared. After experiencing hallucinations, screaming in sleep, pains in limbs and chest, and extreme agitation, I visited a doctor in Uganda who immediately identified the problem - having had many other patients with similar experiences - and instructed me to stop the drug straightaway. Nervous problems in skin, and periodic hallucinations continued for about 8 months. Loss of energy and motivation for about a year and a half. Periods of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts still continue six years later. Although I have friends who have had no adverse effects to taking Larium, on the basis of my experience I would advise against it completely - there are satisfactory alternatives. I have used Malarone twice without side effects. | M | 51 | 4 months | 1/22/2009 | 1 | Military Iraq 2003-2004 | It started with a strange depression and really HD dreams. After about 2 months of this I experianced a convulsive episode for 3-4 hours, vomiting relentlessly. At the time I suspected something far diffrent was afflicting me. The war began to take on a sureal quality to say the least. After I returned a year later, my command requested a Psycological eval done. I was a Sergeant Major. My career ended, my views on the world around me were not sequencing with reality in my brain housing group. | It has been 10 years. I still suffer in differing degrees (waves) of symptoms Esophageal malfunction (cant swallow), had abnormal EKG, dizzy/vertigo and nausea, headaches, extreme pain in joints, had tremor, nightmares, and a host of Psych issues, to include PTSD diagnosed by VA. Making it through a day without psycological incident is very challenging. My advice DO NOT TAKE IT. | M | 50 | 12 months 25MG 1X W | 10/8/2014 | 1 | To cure malaria | I have had a headache for 19 years now. Cured the malaria, kept the headache. | Numerous clients on safari in Africa had horrible side effects. NEVER TAKE THIS DRUG. | M | 50 | 5 days 3X day | 1/31/2021 |
LARIAM (MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria or for prophylaxis of malaria (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)