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 from youngest to oldest (reviews with no age reported listed first). 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 | malaria prevention | depression, anxiety, paranoia, confusion, loss of balance, blurred vision, long- and short time memory loss, irritability, chronic fatigue, suicidal thoughts, clumsiness, muscle atrophy, muscle and joint pains, dissociation, depersonalization, chest pains, shortness of breath | The symptoms have been there for 11 years now. Devastating effect on quality of life. Would very much like to know if there is a cure. I recommend NOT to take this drug. | F | 3 days 1X day | 8/6/2013 | 1 | for a short holiday, | F | 3 weeks 1X W | 12/23/2013 Patient History | 2 | Two weeks in Uganda | Recurring Nightmares/Night terrors | My advice would be to avoid this medication unless there's no safer alternative. I took some for a few weeks for a fortnight trip to Uganda when I was 11 and I quicly began having terrible recurring nightmares nearly every day which lasted for at least 8 months to the point where I felt quite traumatised by them. Every night I would dream that I had fallen onto subway tracks as a train was arriving and was paralysed so I couldn't get up off the tracks, waking up as the train crushed me! | M | 11 | 4 weeks | 2/3/2010 | 3 | Malaria Prevention | [Warning to anyone who does not like the thought of death, heart problems or feelings of helplessness] Serious bouts of psychosis, that I didn't realise until 6 months after taking medicine. Only after looking back, I remembered just how much my mental state was negatively affected. The state it caused became a new normal. Was supposed to take them every Friday, and did so. One week after stopping, on a Friday, a whole 24 hours of heart palpitations, incredibly painful and draining but I was still out of my mind enough to walk around town to feel alive. Months that followed included non stop fear of the inevitability of death. Similar to when you realise you are breathing, become conscious of it, then find it difficult to breath or manually do so. But just every. single. waking. moment. I never understood why anyone would want to commit suicide but this ... medication made it a relatable concept, despite being scared of even trying to. The panic attacks were driven by fears similar to | [All comments are personal, not trying to defame anyone or spread false info. ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR LOCAL DOCTORS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE] If you and family relatives have no mental health conditions (diagnosed or suspected!!), feel free to go ham. Make sure! that you have reliable health care providers you are comfortable with, so you can be honest about how you feel with taking the medication and if complications arise. If you have some (even small) traits of psychosis, or other mental health disorders, I beg for you to not take it, your already existing symptoms may be exponentially exacerbated. It just gives a sense of being separate to reality, very unnerving. (P.S do not search up "unnerving" and look for pictures, they are very creepy) | F | 13 | 3 weeks 25 1X W | 10/29/2020 | 2 | malaria prevention | Not positive if lariam is cause but my 13 year old daughter had grand mal seizure while taking and now has epilepsy. I have neuropathy which I never had before. | Would not take again unless absolutely mandated. Otherwise use insect repellent, coils, nets, clothing to avoid mosquitos. | F | 13 | 6 weeks | 5/14/2006 | 1 | Trip to Kenya | I am on it now. I can't sleep. I can't stay warm, then I am cold. Every mood is exaggerated. I don't become annoyed, I go straight to a state of blinding fury. I don't get sad, I become horribly depressed. I was not told not to drive and three days after getting on this stuff, I got in a race and went over 80 on a winding road and was in horrible accident (no one has seen anyone walk away from one this bad, not even EMS). I thought my boyfriends mother was going to attack me (delusions), and I had a panic attack in the car after the crash. I can't think clearly. It's like thinking through wax paper. Everything is there, but I can't get it. I don't understand it unless I really concentrate on tasks and concepts I found simple a month ago. When I try to remember parts of the crash, it is like I am seeing it third person. It is as if I am watching a movie, not remembering it. I see the scene from an aerial view, not from the backboard. I am paranoid and when people try to touch me I scream and cringe. Although I suffered no serious head injuries, I can not remember most of the night of the crash. I blacked out. It is the most awful thing I have ever experienced. | F | 18 | 1 weeks Unknown | 6/4/2012 | 1 | trip to Chang mai | No appetite, feel nausea and terrible headache. From normal becoming to be more paranoid. | Do not take it | F | 18 | 1 weeks | 6/14/2015 | 1 | Trip to Phillipines | Severe hallucinations, crying, shakes, voices in head, telling people I was suicidal..... had to cut my trip short and return home.... Doctor did not give me any warnings..... DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG.... it is dangerous and should be not available. | F | 19 | 3 weeks 30mg 1X W | 7/22/2015 | 4 | Travel to Africe | None | People may slate this drug but I found it the best by far. It was much easier to take - only once a week as opposed to having to remember to take it at the same time each day. I didn't suffer any side effects at all. I know people do, but until you try it you want know. My suggestion is to try it, if you get a side effect after a couple of weeks then you can swap to another type. | F | 20 | 3 months | 11/15/2006 | 1 | Mission to Dominican Republic | The weeks I took it, I had vivid hallucinations, nightmares, extreme paranoia, suicidal thoughts, diarrhea, headache, nausea. Its now been two years, but I still have thoughts of mistrust, anxiety, and paranoia. I feel like I can't fit in with people. I get depressed, have mood-swings, and sometimes suicidal thoughts. I feel like a burden and I keep thinking if I was different before I had my episode in DR. | DO NOT TAKE IT. It is not worth risking the adverse side effects. | M | 20 | 2 weeks 250mg 1X W | 10/14/2014 | 1 | Trip To India | Crazy CRAZY Dreams,Depression, Shortness of breath, severe mood swings, suicidal thoughts [ a friend who went on the trip with me also suffered from terrible nausea and anxiety]. | DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICINE!! I would rather have dealt with malaria and got it treated than to deal with what I went through for months after coming off of this medicine. I have supported groups that are calling for it to be taken off the market. I have no idea why this is approved by the FDA. Also research issues with our military and this drug. | F | 20 | 2 months | 9/5/2007 | 4 | Trip to Ghana | The only side effect I experience was bizarre dreams. | I was taking the once a week kind (for 8 weeks), which is more expensive, but seems to have way less side effects, according to both people here and those I traveled with. | F | 21 | 56 days | 7/7/2007 | 2 | Bali,Indonesia trip. | Heart Palpitations. Most Vivid somewhat Horrifying dreams I've ever experienced. Somewhat like i was dropped in the movie "Inception." Increased anxiety. Skin rash on palm of hands that gradually went up arm. Some minor visual distortions on the day of the week id take it. I was also a raging "b****." I did not contract Malaria though =) | My Uneducated doctor prescribed it to me without reading that my chart that says I suffer from anxiety and depression. Later realized it was a side effect when I came back from my trip. I thought was going crazy until i realized "its just the drugs man" | M | 21 | 8 weeks 250 1X W | 2/7/2015 | 1 | Malaria | Depression, suicidal feelings, madness, crying, irrational fears, nightmares, paranoya, racing heart - ended up in ambulance due to this, dependency, insecurity, disorientation, loss of appetite, panic | do not take this drug, it is not worth the risk - you may be fine but as said above i really wouldn't gamble with it, I have always been a stable, happy girl and completely changed whilst taking it. thankfully i'm fine now. please follow my advice! | F | 21 | 2 weeks | 5/3/2006 | 1 | Studying abroad in southern India | Mood swings, severe nausea, dizzyness, trouble concentrating, terrible nightmares, general depression | I took mefloquine for two months before it occurred to me that the mental changes I was going through were related to it (I had credited it to the stress from culture shock). I stopped taking the drug and after one month - guess what? - I got malaria. The entire experience was horrific and frightening - DO NOT go without an antimalarial. If side effects are bad, get another pill abroad, or, if healthcare there is questionable, come prepared with another prescription ready. Malaria is treatable in most cases, but is can also be debilitating, terrifying and fatal. I was seriously ill for months but still feel incredibly fortunate to be healthy now. Not everyone is so lucky. Take the advantage of having access to antimalarials. | F | 21 | 2 months | 12/7/2008 | 1 | for a mission trip to Africa | Had a severe psychotic episode. Depression, anxiety, nightmares, thoughts of hurting myself, constant crying, fear I was losing my mind. Had to cut my trip short. Got Valium form a doctor in Africa to make the trip home. The pharmacist asked why Americans are still taking this drug because it drives people crazy. Still having depression and anxiety attacks weeks later. | Do Not take this drug. Others are much safer and a lot less expensive. | M | 21 | 3 weeks 1X W | 7/16/2010 | 1 | Anti-Malaria | - anxiety - vivid dreams (woke up believing a giant spider was on my bug net, woke roommate up ranting about children in danger) - couldn't sleep/scared to sleep - paranoia (I thought everyone was talking about me and out to get me) - depression - mood swings | - when I came home I was diagnosed with mental illness and have been on medication for 13 years - just over a year ago my psychiatrist properly diagnosed me with no mental illness but mefloquine toxicity that caused an Aquired Brain Injury (ABI) | F | 21 | 3 months | 7/4/2017 | 1 | malaria prevention | -constant mild visual snow ever since -blank surfaces are always shimmering -mood changes constant switch between depression and nervousness -sleep disturbances, the first dream wakes me up. -loss of appetite -sweaty hands | its been 2 months since the last pill.I just want to see normal again. I took mephaquin which is the same just by a different company called Acino. I am determined to recover, but reading the comments is giving me a hard time. The biggest mistake of my life so far to get this neurotoxin in a Rwandese pharmacy. I am already able to go to uni but its hard with this visual snow and mood changes inside of me. i dont know whether i can make through the semester. I had a lot of drinks the day before i took my third pill. that was a misake. In hindsight, the vivid dreams that came before the major reaction should have made me stop this horror pill. Vivid dreams can be prodromal for more severe actions to come. This and that you should avoid alcohol during treatment was not mentioned in the package insert. | M | 22 | 3 weeks 250mg 1X W | 9/7/2017 | 1 | prevention of malaria | nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low mood, heartburn, light headed | I took 1 tablet last night and the side effects kicked in right away. I'm already on anti depressants and have a history of anxiety and major depression. My doctor did NOT warn me about the risks associated with Lariam at all. You'd think that with my history, he would be very cautious about prescribing this drug for me. It's clear after reading this page that my doctor along with many others know NOTHING about the risks. All of today I feel like I am having brain shivers.. as if my brain is struggling to keep up with my body and it's just rattling inside my head. I only ever feel this when I suffer withdrawal symptoms from missing a dose of an anti depressant. I did NOT miss any dose so I know it's the Lariam. Since last night I feel as if something is caught in my throat. It hurts to swallow when I eat because it feels as if my throat passage is narrower. I have severe heartburn. Taking a zantac did not ease the discomfort at all. My head just hurts. I feel dizzy. I had to go home half an hour into work this morning because I couldn't cope. I vomited when I got home. Went back to my doctor and he gave me Stemetil to help with the nausea. Even that isn't helping!!!!! I still feel terrible. My head hurts so much and I've been crying all afternoon. I don't know what to do. I've been poisoned. I am so angry that this drug is on the market. How dare they do this to people. | F | 22 | 1 days 250mg 1X W | 12/15/2010 | 1 | visit to Malawi | 1 pill = itchy red blistering rash expanding all over my body for over a month | F | 22 | 1 days 250mg 1X W | 11/8/2012 |
LARIAM (MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria or for prophylaxis of malaria (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)