Mefloquine



Lariam®







Mefloquine

(ME floe kwin)

U.S. Brand Names
Lariam®
Canadian Brand Names
Apo-Mefloquine®; Lariam®
Pharmacologic Category
Antimalarial Agent
What key warnings should I know about before taking this medicine?
  • Please read the medication guide given to you.
Reasons not to take this medicine
  • If you have an allergy to mefloquine or any other part of this medicine.
  • If you have an allergy to quinidine or quinine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
  • If you have any of the following conditions: Anxiety, depression, electrical abnormalities of the heart, fast heartbeat, psychosis, or seizures.
  • If you are taking any of these medicines: Chloroquine, halofantrine, quinidine, or quinine.
  • If you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What is this medicine used for?
  • This medicine is used to prevent or treat malaria.
How does it work?
  • Mefloquine protects you from getting malaria.
  • It works to injure the bacteria and fight the infection.
How is it best taken?
  • This medicine should be started before travel to the high risk area. Continue use after leaving the area.
  • To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
  • Use prescription as directed, to prevent malaria.
  • Take this medicine with food.
  • Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
  • To treat malaria, take a single dose. To prevent recurrence of infection, take this medicine with another antibiotic.
What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital)
  • Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
  • If you miss a dose before leaving for your trip, call healthcare provider for instructions.
  • If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
  • Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
What are the precautions when taking this medicine?
  • If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • If you have heart disease, talk with healthcare provider.
  • Other protective measures are needed along with this medicine including using screens, bednetting, insect repellent (10% to 35% DEET), and permethrin spray on clothing and nets. Avoid spraying most insect repellents on children. Decrease evening and night-time outdoor activity.
  • Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
  • You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
  • Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain medicine.
  • Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while taking this medicine.
  • Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
What are some possible side effects of this medicine?
  • Treatment of malaria:
  • Headache.
  • Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects you.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Prevention of malaria:
  • Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying position. Be careful climbing.
  • Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
  • Hallucinations.
  • Inability to sleep.
  • Bad dreams.
  • Psychosis can rarely occur.
  • Seizures can rarely occur.
What should I monitor?
  • Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same?
  • Take good care of your teeth. See a dentist regularly.
Reasons to call healthcare provider immediately
  • If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911.
  • Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness, emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in life.
  • Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.
  • Severe dizziness or passing out.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Flu-like symptoms.
  • Very nervous and excitable.
  • Severe nausea or vomiting.
  • Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
  • Any rash.
  • No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
  • Store at room temperature.
  • Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
General statements
  • If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
  • Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
  • Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
  • Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
Brand Names: