Malarone

The active ingredients in Malarone tablets work by killing the parasite that causes malaria.

The parasite, called plasmodium, lives in the stomachs of infected female mosquitoes. It can be passed to humans who are bitten by infected mosquitoes, causing malaria.

You should start taking Malarone tablets one or two days before you start travelling and then take them every day you’re staying in an area where malaria is present. Once you have left the area, you must take Malarone for a further seven days. Aim to take your tablet at the same time each day with food or a milky drink.

Please read the printed information leaflet inside the pack for full details of how to take this treatment.

Malarone tablets are only suitable for adults and children weighing more than 40kg. Also, if any of the following apply to you, Malarone tablets may not be suitable for you, or you may have to take extra care while taking them:

• You are pregnant or breast-feeding
• You have an allergy or sensitivity to atovaquone or proguanil hydrochloride
• You have kidney problems
• You have diarrhoea
• You are vomiting

For more information on whether or not you should take this medicine, please refer to the printed information leaflet inside the pack.

The latest statistics show there were 207 million cases of malaria worldwide during 2012. Of those people, 627,000 died.

During the same year 1,200 people in the UK were diagnosed with malaria after returning home from abroad. Two of them died.

The good news is malaria is preventable. But if left untreated, it can be fatal.

Some parts of the world carry a risk of malaria, including many countries in Africa, Asia, Central and South America.

If you are going to a malaria country – or even just travelling through – it’s important to take antimalarial tablets a couple of weeks before you set off. You should also use insect repellent and keep your sun covered between sunset and sunrise to avoid getting bitten by a mosquito.

It’s also important to be aware of the symptoms of malaria when you arrive back home, since malaria may not make you feel ill for up to six months or a year after your holiday. Look out for any flu-like symptoms for up to 12 months after you return, especially if you’ve been to a country where you know there’s been an outbreak of malaria.

Not everyone experiences side effects when taking Malarone tablets. Here are some that you should be aware of:

In more than one in 10 users:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea (please seek medical advice)

In more than one in 100 users:

•  Cough
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Itching/skin rashes
• Depression
• Sleep difficulties
• Allergic reactions

In more than one in 1,000 users:

• Anxiety
• Palpitations

* Urticaria (skin rash)

• Hair loss
• Mouth inflammation

In more than 1 in 10,000 users:

• Hallucinations

For a full list of side effects associated with Malarone tablets, please refer to the printed information leaflet inside the pack.

Other considerations

There are no known foods you should avoid while taking Malarone tablets. There are also no known interactions between Malarone tablets and alcohol.

However, taking Malarone tablets may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

Some indigestion medicines called antacids may affect the absorption of the active ingredient proguanil in your body, making it less effective. So if you need to take an indigestion remedy, do not take it for two hours before taking a Malarone tablet.

If you wish to buy Malarone malaria tablets online, please note that we take our customers’ safety very seriously. All orders placed with Online Pharmacy in UK.com are reviewed by a fully qualified GMC-registered doctor.

This consultation process includes the following:

• When you proceed to checkout after placing your order, you will enter our online consultation facility, where you will be required to complete a medical questionnaire. This will be reviewed by one of our doctors.

• If your order is approved by our doctor, an electronic prescription will be sent to our dispensing pharmacy on your behalf.

Further help

If you would like to ask one of our medical professionals any questions about this medication, please log in to our Patients’ Portal after placing your order.

If you buy Malarone tablets online from the UK or EU, we can offer free next-day delivery. We ship all orders via a trackable courier service (DPD, TNT or UPS) using discreet, plain packaging. Delivery also includes a text messaging service, which conveniently provides you with an estimated arrival time.

Please note: You will have to sign for your order.