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 Date added. 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 | Everything on the insert, except suicide. Also, some which are not mentioned - see additional comments: | Took it in 2003 and found myself in a deep, dark pit that took years to crawl out of. In addition to the all usual symptoms, tinnitus, anxiety, panics attacks, etc, my emotions disappeared (except terror - that stayed). I guess you cannot imagine what it must be like not having emotions, until you experience it. And then pain disappeared. I could injure myself without feeling it. The feeling of impending doom all the time. Feeling of there not being enough light. I could look directly into the sun and not feel pain - not feel the impulse to look away. Erectile dysfunction for years. Zero appetite - food tasted like cardboard. Had to force-feed myself. Had to pretend to my family that I was OK and had feelings for them - too terrified to tell them what was actually happening. It was like living in the worst horror movie you can imagine. Hormones went bezerk. I'm sure my hypothalamus is fried. | M | 47 | 21 days | 3/15/2009 | 1 | nepal service trip | dizziness, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, low blood pressure, drowsiness, loss of appetite, weight loss, residual symptoms 5 months later, confusion, hallucinations, irritability, hyperactivity | Using this drug was one of the worst decisions of my life. Do not take it. | F | 22 | 5 weeks | 2/22/2009 | 1 | Trip to Pakistan | Hair lose, rage, social proplems, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness. | There are three other options for Malaria prevention. I would put this drug at the bottom of the list. | M | 38 | 1 months | 2/5/2009 | 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 | prophylaxis | paranoia, hallucinations, vivid dreams, nightmares, severe anxiety leading to panic attacks and social anxiety, short term memory loss, confusion | It took me 6 months after I stopped using the medicine before I began feeling relatively better. I still have trouble with social anxiety. Please avoid this medicine as much as you can! There are alternatives! | F | 29 | 8 weeks | 1/17/2009 | 1 | traveling to Tanzania | vertigo, dizziness, muscle pain, sensitive skin, lightheadedness, nightmares | took the once-a-week pill variety. The night of the first pill, had terrible terrible nightmares. Felt fine for rest of the week, but the day I took my 2nd pill, I started to feel lightheaded and had spells of vertigo. Then developed a patch of sensitive skin on my stomach that almost felt like a burn- a couple days later it spread to my side and back, and my back muscle is very sore. Almost a week later, and I have developed a rash on my side. This medication is awful, and the dr. said i will probably continue to have these side effects for another month or so, even though i only took 2 pills. | F | 23 | 2 times | 12/20/2008 | 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 | 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 | Peace Corps | pressure in brain, convulsions, anhedonia, anxiety, severe depression, fatigue, suicidal ideations, loss of desire to do ANYTHING AT ALL | I prepared to go to Africa for PC for over a year. They waited until the day we got on the plane to give us our first Lariam pill. No history of anxiety/depression. By the time we landed in Africa, I had social anxiety/anhedonia and could not feel any emotion besides a foreboding feeling of dread. I had anxiety every day, was in tears by the afternoon, and had pressure in my brain and intense body convulsions at night that sometimes woke me up. I could have switched to the daily stuff but the symptoms were so bad that I couldn't stay there another day. I came home and had to keep taking the Lariam for a month (I stopped after 2 weeks). Some symptoms have decreased except anhedonia. It is difficult not to contemplate suicide. I hope I get back to normal very soon, this has ruined everything for me. DO NOT RISK YOUR SANITY BY TAKING THIS DRUG. PEACE CORPS SHOULD NOT RISK VOLUNTEERS' HEALTH BY GIVING OUT THIS DRUG. | F | 25 | 1.5 months | 11/21/2008 | 1 | Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, confusion | I toke two or three of these pills four years ago and I turned crazy for three days. Will not take it again, it should be banned. Take Malarone instead, it had no side effects on me. | M | 34 | 3 days | 11/3/2008 | 1 | malaria prophylaxis | Seizures, suicidal ideation, psychosis, vestibular disorder (i.e. brain damage), unable to work for 1.5 years. | I had no history of mental illness and so was prescribed this drug. It's a mystery why some react and others are fine, but it has been contraindicated for women on the Pill and anybody who drinks any alcohol. If the liver is at all compromised when the drug hits, it can quickly build up to a toxic level in the brain. | F | 37 | 3 weeks | 10/28/2008 | 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 | Malaria prevention | brown acid style hallucinations, nightmares continuing into waking up, loud tinnitus, nausea, rage, crazy behavior | My wife and I both had serious problems during and after taking this drug. My wife recently had a Grand Mal seizure to add to the list. I will never take this ever again and the fact that it continues to be prescribed is insane. It is not prescribed in other countries and anyone who has used it knows what I am talking about. It is so obvious that I think it is a conspiracy (another symptom? I can't tell anymore.) | M | 29 | 3 months | 6/3/2008 | 1 | Military Deployment to S. America | Vivid dreams, sleeplessness, neuropathy. | I took Lariam for approximately three months during which time I experienced some sleep disturbances. The worst of it was and still is (3-1/2 years later), is the neuropathy. About a month after starting on the medication, I experienced shooting pains in my body, muscle fasciculations and tingling and buzzing sensations throughout my body. Like I said, these nerve disturbances still exist today 3-1/2 years later. I have every reason to believe it is permanent. Please explore other options for malaria prophylaxis. There are safer alternatives to Lariam. This drug should certainly not be your first choice. I'd go so far as to say it should be banned. | M | 29 | 90 days | 4/12/2008 | 1 | Trip to cambodia | headaches, anxiety, depression, loss of appetite, dizziness, noise ringing in ears, difficulty concentrating, memory loss | It has been over three months, and I still experience most of these side effects. I only took one tablet. | F | 23 | 1 times | 3/15/2008 | 5 | short africa trip | Please take some kind of drug if you are visiting an area where there is concern...These people on here that say they would rather get malaria and be treated?!?!?!? | A friend of the family recently returned from Africa (Ghana) and did not take the pill...She is sadly now in the hospital for the 4th week and has undergone 4 surgeries. She has lost ALL 4 limbs and they are not sure that she won't lose more. It is NOT better to get malaria. Don't be dumb...take SOME kind of prophylactic malaria drug...she was there 1 WEEK and now she has lost both her arms and legs,not to mention what it has done to the rest of her body...Please don't be crazy...take the meds! | F | 35 | | 3/11/2008 | 1 | treatement | bad blood circulation in arms and legs trouble concentrating | M | 27 | | 3/7/2008 | 1 | Trip to Kenya | Insomnia, depression, anxiety | Whole family took this drug, Mum and I both effected, Mum was tearfull, paranoid, was told to come off & hasnt had any ill effects, me on the other hand, well i didnt know, any of this till months afterward, had months of the worst depression and years of insomnia, still have bad nights now, 7 years later!!! Short term memory isnt great and only realised reading this that I can trace it back to then, depression isnt so bad, but still get low days, DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG, SHOULD BE BANNED!!! | F | 36 | 5 weeks | 3/6/2008 | 1 | Lagos-Nigeria | Dizziness, Cramps,after 3 weeks loss of appetite, nausea started at week 5 of taking the tablets, vomiting, stomach upset, feelings of disconnection. Stomach is still upset and still experiencing dizziness several weeks after stopping taking them. | Will not take again | F | 23 | 42 days | 2/17/2008 | 1 | trek in Africa | sleeplessness, wierd dreams,was very teary the day after taking it,became a total basket case | I stopped taking this hideous drug after three weeks when I realised what it was doing to me. I had six more months in Africa and was prepared to get malaria and treat it than suffer this drug (thankfully I didn't get it) My trip was twelve years ago and I have been an insomniac ever since! This drug should not be available to ANYONE! | F | 26 | 3 days | 1/26/2008 |