Malaria chemoprophylaxis

Active Ingredient: Mefloquine

Indication for Mefloquine

Population group: only children (1 year - 12 years old) , adolescents (12 years - 18 years old) , adults (18 years old or older)

Malaria chemoprophylaxis with Lariam is particularly recommended for travellers to malarious areas in which multiply resistant P. falciparum strains occur.

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

5 mg/kg once weekly

Route of admnistration

Oral

Defined daily dose

5 - 5 mg per kg of body weight

Dosage regimen

From 5 To 5 mg per kg of body weight once every 7 day(s)

Detailed description

For malaria prophylaxis the stated dose of mefloquine should be given once weekly, always on the same day.

In order to ensure, before arrival in endemic area, that mefloquine administration is well tolerated, it is recommended to start chemoprophylaxis with mefloquine 10 days before departure (i.e. first intake 10 days before departure and 2nd intake 3 days before departure). Subsequent doses should be taken once a week (on a fixed day).

Treatment should be continued for 4 weeks after leaving a malarious area (minimum treatment period 6 weeks). The maximum recommended duration of administration of mefloquine is 12 months.

The recommended chemoprophylactic dose of mefloquine is approximately 5 mg/kg bodyweight once weekly. The following dosage schedule is given as a guide:

 Dosage
Adults and children of more than 45 kg bodyweight1 tablet
Children and adults weighing less than 45 kg 
5–19 kg¼ tablet
20–30 kg½ tablet
31–45 kg¾ tablet

Dosage considerations

It should be swallowed whole preferably after a meal with plenty of liquid.

Active ingredient

Mefloquine

Mefloquine acts on and destroys the asexual intraerythocytic forms of the human malaria parasites: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax. P. malariae and P. ovale. It is effective in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria.

Read more about Mefloquine

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