Prophylactics - Malarone & Doxycycline

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INDEX - Click here. Find your desired subject and double click on it. After a LOT of research in 2010, we chose Malarone as the main Prophylactic (a medication to lessen the chance of getting malaria) and we also brought Doxycycline as a backup Prophylactic and for use if an antibiotic was needed. Preparing for another African trip in 2014, I find the same conclusions. More details are provided here- CLICK HERE. WE USED AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND (personal recommendations, based on OUR experiences) THE PROPHYLACTIC MALARONE, as a medication to prevent getting malaria (nothing works 100% of the time). Of course, you may have a different experience. NONE of my party of Five noticed any side effects with Malarone. We took it with and without food - no problems. Malarone is effective against all African malaria, AS FAR IS WE KNOW, AND AT THIS POINT IN TIME (September 2014). We also took the antibiotic (Doxycycline) as a backup Prophylactic (we carried it with us, but were not going to take it unless it was needed) in case we did have problems with Malarone. We believe that you have to be more careful about too much sunshine, if you take Doxycycline (check the facts). CHECK WITH YOUR TRAVEL DOCTOR BEFORE MAKING A CHOICE Malaria deaths hugely underestimated - Lancet Efficacy and adverse reactions of recommended prophylactic regimens Some travelers prefer to take the cheaper Doxycycline instead of Malarone. The advantages of Doxycycline are: 1} Doxycycline is cheaper than Malarone. 2] Since it is an antibiotic, it will kill some bad things that may get into your system. The DISadvantages of Doxycycline are: 1] Doxycycline is an antibiotic - it will kill good intestinal bacteria, perhaps causing diarrhea. (You can eat any of the Probiotics to replenish the good bacteria. I take cheap, over the counter, brands that I find in the vitamin aisle). 2[ It may cause women to contract a yeast infection - I don't think over the counter probiotics will help that, although changing the pH of your system helps, and cranberry capsules help, but you would, perhaps, get a medical prescription (filled) to combat a possible yeast infection before you travel. 3] Since it is an antibiotic, you may be strengthening bacterial resistance to Doxycycline, rendering Doxycycline useless for you when you need it, causing you to have to take a stronger antibiotic to fight an infection. All travelers should bring along an antibiotic and an antidiarrheal drug to be started promptly if significant diarrhea occurs. I take some form of Loperamide HCL 2mg tablets (Immodium), available withOUT a prescription here, in the USA, for combating diarrhea. Malaria is distinctly seasonal in South Africa, with the highest risk being during the wet summer months (October to May).

MALARONE

Malarone = is a combination of two drugs (atovaquone and proguanil HCI). It's called Malanil in South Africa; both brands are manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline. There is now a Generic Malarone in the USA (Indian company). WE USED MALARONE. NONE of my party of Five noticed any side effects. I took it with and without food - no problems. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND MALARONE for your anti-malaria drug, or course, you may have a different experience. I also take an antibiotic (Doxycycline) as a backup, in case I do have problems with Malarone. I believe that you have to be careful about too much sunshine, if you take Doxycycline. CHECK WITH YOUR TRAVEL DOCTOR BEFORE MAKING A CHOICE Some people prefer taking Doxycycline because it is both cheaper and it is an antibiotic (temporary immune boost). It is probably also easier to find, locally (in Africa) than is Malarone, but I do NOT actually know if this is true. Other people prefer the more expensive Malarone because it requires less of an avoidance to sunlight (than Doxycycline) and because it is NOT an antibiotic (they don't want the bugs in their bodies to build up immunities to antibiotics unless antibiotics are needed). Side-effects (of Malarone), which are typically mild, may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, or dizziness. Serious adverse reactions are rare. Malarone (Atovaquone and Proguanil Hcl) Drug Information Malarone Information from Drugs.com Atovaquone - Wikipedia Malaria in South Africa: Introduction and Advice A high percentage of travellers who take malaria chemoprophylaxis will report side-effects, the majority of which are mild and self-limiting. In general, the incidence of mild to moderate and serious adverse events is similar for mefloquine and the combination of proguanil and chloroquine. The rate of serious adverse reactions is in the order of 1:10 000 for both regimens. However, the types of adverse events differ. The combination of proguanil and chloroquine commonly causes gastrointestinal adverse events, and mefloquine appears to cause more disabling neuropsychiatric events. Travellers discontinue their drugs because of adverse events at a similar rate for all the recommended regimens.

DOXYCYCLINE

May cause an exaggerated sunburn reaction, which limits its usefulness in the tropics. Sunscreen is essential. For women, an antifungal medication should be included in the medical kit, in case of yeast infection. Doxycycline is effective against all four species of human malaria parasites and has comparable efficacy to mefloquine. Doxycycline also treats cholera. During cholera epidemics, 90 per cent of those who get ill would be okay if they drank large amounts of water. CHECK WITH A DOCTOR IF YOU FEEL YOU MAY HAVE CHOLERA. Doxycycline affects bone formation during early life and should not be given during pregnancy, breast-feeding and the first eight years of life. Adverse effects including gastrointestinal symptoms and candida infection of the gut and vagina and may be severe enough to discontinue prophylaxis. Severe skin sensitivity to sun burn may develop, excessive exposure should be avoided and the use of sunscreen preparations is advised. Other rare symptoms include dizziness, headache and blurred vision. There is limited experience with long-term use of more than 4-6 months, BUT I've met lots of expats living in Kenya a lot longer - YOU MAY HAVE PROBLEMS IF YOU DO." Doxycycline. (daily). Start one day before entering a malaria area. These regimes must be taken for FOUR weeks AFTER leaving the malaria area. more on: Doxycycline

HIGH RISK AFRICAN MALARIA COUNTRIES (at least part of the Country)

KENYA, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zair, Zambia SOUTH AFRICA - North east, low altitude areas of Mpumalanga and Northern Provinces, Northeast KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela river. Risk IS present in Kruger National Park. Zimbabwe - The Zambezi Valley.

Preferable regimen:

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND MALARONE. None of my party had problems with Malarone

PROPHYLACTICS RECOMMENDED FOR HIGH RISK COUNTRIES

DOXYCYCLINE

Doxycycline Doxycycline is related to Tetracycline. The most common reported side effect is increased sun sensitivity so make sure you take all precautions to avoid sunburn. Mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, or vaginal yeast infection are some other possible side effects. doxycycline - anytestkits Malaria in South Africa: Introduction and Advice - South Africa The length of the regimen can have adverse effects on the digestive tract, which can be alleviated to some degree with probiotics like Inteflora. (NO that's silly - just take over the counter Acidophilus or Bifidus) Some people prefer taking Doxycycline because it is both cheaper than Malarone and it is an antibiotic (temporary immune boost). It is probably also easier to find, locally (in Africa) than is Malarone, but I do NOT actually know if this is true. Other people prefer the more expensive Malarone because it requires less of an avoidance to sunlight (than Doxycycline) and because it is NOT an antibiotic (they don't want the bugs in their bodies to build up immunities to antibiotics unless antibiotics are needed).

INDEX - MALARIA and RELATED INFORMATION

AFRICAN TRIP HEALTH ISSUES AFRICA Africa - Traveler's Health Information Complete AFRICAN SAFARI PLANNING | Atovaquone BITES - Treating & Identifying BOTSWANA Chills CLOTHES and SAFARI GEAR Convulsions CPAP and Battery powered CPAP/APAP DEET - (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) - Mosquito Repellent DEET SELLERS, of DENGUE FEVER Doxycycline Doxycycline - Advantages of Doxycycline - DIS-Advantages of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (sleeping sickness) Fever FILARIASIS GEAR, SAFARI Glenmark Pharma is producing GENERIC MALARONE in the USA GPS for Safaris HATS, SAFARI HEV = 400-500 nm (longer than UVA) - may cause Macular Degeneration Complete Insect Repellent & Insecticide Information Japanese Encephalitis KENYA - Complete Safari & Travel Information - Information that you REALLY MUST KNOW LYME Disease LYME DISEASE IN SOUTH AFRICA Malaria in HIGH RISK African Countries Malaria in KENYA Malaria in OTHER African Countries Malaria in SOUTH AFRICA VACCINATION FOR MALARIA WORKS MALARONE - WE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH the PROPHYLACTIC "MALARONE" GENERIC MALARONE in the USA Metofluthrin - Insecticide repellent NOT applied to human skin Consumer Reports states that OFF (contains Metofluthrin) does not work very well. Click on the above link. MOSQUITOES - General Information Mosquito BITES - Treating Mosquito Borne Disease - REALLY COMPLETE Mosquito - DISEASES FROM Mosquito Netting MOSQUITO REPELLENTS & INSECTICIDES Mosquito (electrified) Zappers (swatters) Netting NEWS about Malaria & Mosquitoes OFF Clip-on mosquito protection uses Metofluthrin Consumer Reports states that OFF does not work very well. Click on the above link. OIL of LEMON EUCALYPTUS - OLE - a Repellent PERIPREL - Repellent Permethrin Insecticide - keep off your skin PICARIDIN (KBR3023, or Bayrepel) - REPELLENT Poisoning by DEET Poisoning by Insecticides Poisoning by METOFLUTHIN Poisoning by PICARIDIN (not very likely) Poisoning by PYRETHRIN Prophylactics / Malaria Preventative Medications Proquani HCL RID - Australian insect Repellent - said to also work on Tsetse Flies SAFARI GEAR St. Louis Encephalitis SOUTH AFRICA SUNGLASSES - What they should do SUNSCREEN - Complete Sunscreen Warnings, Information, Ingredients, Products & Resources Sweating SYMPTOMS of MALARIA TICKS - Complete TICK Information Tick BITES Tick DISEASES TICK REPELLENTS TRAVEL INFORMATION TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel SUPPLIES Travel WARNINGS (US State Department) HEV = 400-500 nm (longer than UVA) - may cause Macular Degeneration UV400 (blocks UVA, UVB and UVC = 100 nm to 400 nm, but NOT HEC) UVA UVB UVC VACCINATIONS for Kenya VACCINATION FOR MALARIA WORKS WEST NILE VIRUS ZAMBIA ZIMBABWE I researched most of this information prior to our 30 day African photo safari and other African safaris. I created these websites ONLY to provide free information to help other people. I am NOT a business of any kind, and make NO money from these web pages. These are PERSONAL web pages - Feel free to link to any of my pages. Privacy Policy - we keep NO information about visitors Terms of Use We NEVER get paid anything for endorsements of any kind David Woodsmall - Main Web page