What does mefloquine do to the brain?
Direct evidence eventually published in 2006 found that mefloquine is neurotoxic, causing brain stem lesions that are “permanent in nature” in animal models at dosages equivalent to those used in malaria treatment [19].
What is mefloquine used for?
Malaria is a serious infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Malaria is found in Iraq, Afghanistan, and many areas in Africa, South America, and Asia. Mefloquine is a round, white tablet taken once a week that can help prevent malaria for travelers.
What is mefloquine toxicity?
Mefloquine is also known to cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, depression, restlessness, confusion, and unusual behavior. In more serious cases symptoms can include suicidal behavior, committing suicide, severe anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, depression, feeling restless, insomnia, and abnormal dreams.
How do you take mefloquine prophylaxis?
How should I take mefloquine? Both adults and children should take one dose of mefloquine per week starting at least 2 weeks before traveling to the area where malaria transmission occurs. They should take one dose per week while there, and for 4 consecutive weeks after leaving.
Why did the military stop using mefloquine?
The FDA issued advisories about mefloquine’s side effects over the years, culminating in a “black box warning” in 2013 about the drug’s potential to cause permanent neurological and psychiatric injuries. DoD now acknowledges the drug can cause long-term health problems and has all but stopped using mefloquine.
Can mefloquine cause psychosis?
Severe psychiatric side effects due to mefloquine intoxication are well documented, including anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, persecutory delusions, dissociative psychosis, and anterograde amnesia. Exposure to the drug has been associated with acts of violence and suicide.
How quickly does mefloquine work?
if you are taking mefloquine to treat malaria, your symptoms should improve within 48 to 72 hours after you finish your treatment. Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after this time.
What is the best time to take mefloquine?
Mefloquine tablets should be taken after a meal, with plenty of water and at the same time on the same day each week. It is very important to complete the course.
Is mefloquine banned?
In 2013, the US Army banned mefloquine from use by its special forces such as the Green Berets. In autumn 2016, the UK military followed suit with their Australian peers after a parliamentary inquiry into the matter revealed that it can cause permanent side effects and brain damage.
Can mefloquine cause memory problems?
The psychiatric effects of mefloquine toxicity include, but are not limited to, anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia/persecutory delusions, dissociative psychosis, amnesia and other memory problems, and violent and suicidal behavior.
How long does mefloquine stay in your system?
Clinical pharmacokinetic studies in male volunteers from Africa, Brazil, Europe, and the United States have shown that mefloquine has a long but variable plasma half-life of 6–23 days, with a mean value of around 14 days, but effective drug levels may persist for 30 days or more (WHO, 1983).
Does mefloquine make you sleepy?
you should know that mefloquine may make you drowsy and dizzy. These symptoms may continue for a while after you stop taking mefloquine.
Where is mefloquine banned?
When did the military stop using mefloquine?
Mefloquine was widely prescribed to U.S. military service members until 2009 when use was limited to personnel with contraindications to doxycycline and no contraindications to mefloquine.
Why is mefloquine banned?
Some soldiers say their mental health has suffered after taking the anti-malaria drug, Mefloquine. A call has been made for an immediate ban on a controversial anti-malaria drug given to British soldiers. The side-effects of mefloquine, or Lariam, have been linked to severe depression and other mental illnesses.