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 length of time drug was taken longest to shortest. 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 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | Nigeria | Insomnia, twitching, restless legs, loss of concentration, anxiety, psychosis, Depression, suicide attempt | Took this for about one year starting at age 19. Not only did it not work (I contracted malaria while in Nigeria) but I also experienced the listed side effects for several years. | F | 35 | 1 years Standard 1X W | 2/3/2011 | 1 | Loss of cognitive function. Short term memory. Clumsiness , unable to recognise potential dangers. Dropping things constantly. Unable to remember names of well known persons at times. Mental blocks. | M | 40 | 1 years ?? | 6/11/2012 | 1 | Malaria Prevention | Anxiety, mild hallucinations, and dizziness (one episode of debilitating vertigo lasting 1 day during my first month taking Larium) while taking Larium 2009-2011. Now in 2014 frequent mild dizziness, with 4 debilitating vertigo attacks in the past 3 years. I had never suffered from vertigo before I took Larium, though I cannot say for sure that the two are linked. | If possible, take a different drug for malaria prevention. Doxy made me feel nauseated and it was a bother to take every day, but now I wish I had stuck with Doxy instead of starting Larium. However, both are preferable to malaria! | F | 28 | 27 months 1X W | 8/20/2014 | 1 | military deployment to Afghanistan | I had to run for a toilet the moment it hit my stomach. I failed to do research on this pill before or during my deployment so didn't recognize two other effects until recently. | I was in Afghansitan for 23 months with the Army and religiously took my pill every "Mefloquine Monday." I thought the length of my deployment caused the anxiety that led to sleeplessness. As I was in my mid-40s I was aware of short term memory loss and was concerned that this was the onset of Alzheimer's. That scares me. I've been back now 19 months as a contractor and haven't taken pill one. I wish I had read the side effects and risked getting malaria, especially that the area I was/am in is not even a threat area. Malaria can be treated, but the short term memory loss concerns the hell out of me. Lesson learned: always research what others prescribe to you and carefully weigh your alternatives. | M | 47 | 23 months | 10/16/2007 | 1 | anti malarial prophylaxis | hallucinations, anxiety, forgetfulness, depression | This is like taking crazy pills! They made us take this in the Peace Corps and let me tell you, the side effects only get worse over time. I like how they say that only people with history of mental disorders are suseptible, well then most of Peace Corps Volunteers must be mental because so many of us had bad bad side effects from this. I would have to say that atleast 40-50% of us had some sort of psychological reaction to this drug and some of us have lasting effects! DO NOT TAKE THIS EVER! I would personally risk malaria than take this ever again! | F | 25 | 20 months | 2/23/2007 | 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 prevent Malaria while in CAR | F | 44 | 10 months 30 mg 1X W | 12/22/2014 Patient History | 1 | malaria prophylaxis | paranoia, hallucinations, vivid dreams, severe anxiety leading to panic attacks and social anxiety, motion sickness, dizziness, short term memory loss, confusion | All of the side effects increased the longer I was on Larium and some have subsided since I have stopped but the anxiety, suseptibility to motion sickness and short term memory loss have persisted even years after having stopped taking the medication. | F | 27 | 10 months | 2/23/2007 | 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 | 5 | Trip to Africa | Erotic dreams the night of taking tablet | Lots of men seemed to have nightmares but most women had very good dreams - based on personal survey of fellow backpackers over the months. The men often stopped taking it. | F | 25 | 8 months | 4/1/2016 | 1 | 2003/4 | Suicide ideation, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggression, lack of empathy, pain in joints, spinal problems etc etc | POISON that big pharma keep churning out, directly responsible for the death of hundreds,DO NOT TAKE THS POISON unless you reall have too, doctors who prescribe this need to be updated properly on its side effects. | M | 45 | 8 months 250 1X W | 5/14/2013 | 1 | military deployment to Pakistan | clinical depression, cry easily, trouble sleeping, bad dreams, vivid dreams to seep into the real world for a few moments after waking, never feeling rested after sleeping, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, short-term memory degradation, loss of libido, short temper, shortness of breath, irritable bowels, reduced resistance to stress. | My symptoms started almost immediately. I mistook it as a response to a stressful environment. About a year after I returned from Pakistan, I was diagnosed with clinical depression, which still plagues me 5 years later. Welbutrin helps quite a bit, but doesn't take care of all my symptoms. Recently, due to unexplained weight gain (20 lbs in 6 months while working out 3xweek), pain in legs, numbness in feet, dry scalp and skin, and brittle nails, I've been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. The Synthroid seems to be helping, so hopefully the right dosage will eliminate those symptoms. I am very angry that I was prescribed a substance that was known to have adverse side effects, and that come to know after the fact, I was in an even higher risk group, being that I was female and taking an oral contraceptive. Due to this horrible drug, I will be on medication for the rest of my life to control the depression and hypothyroidism that it has caused, and struggling with the symptoms that m | F | 35 | 8 months | 7/16/2008 | 1 | Liberia West Africa 2006 | impaired speech. extreme nightmares. dizziness. depression. loss of libido. short and lomg term memory loss. loss of concentration. hypertension. | 4 years later and i am still suffering with the side effects of taking lariam.forced to take this drug by the military while on operational deployment. this drug has really damaged my health and it will be something i will have to live with for the rest of my life. STAY AWAY FROM LARIAM!!!!!! | M | 27 | 8 months 250mg 1X W | 2/17/2010 Patient History | 1 | Military deployment to africa | Severe short term memory loss, anxiety, depression, lack of empathy | M | 29 | 8 months | 5/16/2013 | 1 | OIF Deployment 03-04 | We were forced to take this drug weekly before, during, and affter the deployment. I experience nausea, chronic headaches, mood swings, nightmares among other things. The command would not accept my refusal to take this med. Almost 10 years later I have been diagnosed by VA for Larium toxicity. This drug can cause lifetime debilitating effects. Please do not use!!!! | F | 30 | 8 months 250mg | 3/26/2013 | 4 | 5 month stay in Ghana | Light nausea at times, usually just after taking the pill. | Had no effect on me, and wanted to add this comment for all the people still thinking about taking this drug. It works fine for many, and is bad for a few... it seems however that it is only the bad stories you hear.. Take it with caution, and follow your doctors instructions!! | M | 25 | 6 months | 4/2/2009 | 1 | military deployment to africa | nightmares, suicidal thoughts, depression, isolation, paranoid thoughts, | i became really, really withdrawn from my friends. i was hearing voices in my head. thinking of things that were so far from reality it's scary to think of them now. i wanted to die and the army gave me the tools to do it. if it wasn't for the best of friends i wouldn't be writing this now. cheers buddy. now i still suffer from lariam. i have pains in all my limbs, bad headaches, muscle spasms, low libido, depression. really disturbed sleep patterns- many nights my wife wakes with me sweating profusely and trying to choke her. this is just mental shit, dont take one tablet. i dont know if i'll ever be the same again. | M | 31 | 6 months 1X W | 9/17/2010 |
LARIAM (MEFLOQUINE HYDROCHLORIDE): Treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria or for prophylaxis of malaria (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)