I just got a prescription for Malaria pills ( U.S.) and they want $206.00 to cover a 14 day trip!!!! Isnt this just crazy? I know you are supposed to start taking them 2 days before the trip, but can you just get them when you get there for cheaper??? The U.K. doesnt need a prescription and they are about 60.00 U.S. dollare for the same prescription....any ideas????? And this is after $275.00 for the recommended shots!!

WELL HECK NEVER MIND, I found out that there are 3 different types you can take, the one that have a generic is only $15.00.

The prices do vary depending on which type of tablets you take, Malarone is very expensive.

In the overall scheme of things, it seems a small amount to protect your life. Probably less than 1 nights accommodation.

The "generic" is doxycyline which isn't specific for malaria, rather an all purpose antibiotic. This too is a daily pill and on return home have to continue for 28/days. Sie-effects can be sun-sensitivity and for women "thrush" (or dischharge). Prescribed often for those who for whatever reason can't take Malarone or Lariam.

Lariam will be less expensive than Malarone, is a once-a-week tab, but can for some people have serious side-effects. Should not be taken by people who have (or family members) with psychological problems; side-effects can be disturbed sleep, weird dreams and other whatevers. The Lariam is available as a generic with a very inexpensive price. I have never had any problem with these.

Malarone, is the newest, which is a daily tab from 2/days prior, daily when in-country and then 7/days on return home. It's also the most expensive, but I'd check around as $206 seems a bit high. Check at Costco as I hear they have better prices. If you have a drug plan, some of this maybe covered, as it was for me and never paid more than $35 for a 2/week trip (23/tabs).

Here Malarone is 62€/12 tabletts
2 weeks trip means 14+2+7 = 23 tabletts = 2 x 62/124€ fixed price (roughly 175) and only available as prescribed and sold at pharmacies.

Maybe evaluate whether you need a malaria prophylaxis at all ;-)

Hi spassvogel:
So did you not take any malaria pills??? Ive been second guessing myself on all of this ( the pills and all the shots)
since sometimes the side effects are worse than the disease....thrush!!!! ark....

Do you usually get yeast infections while taking antibiotics? If not, don't obssess over it. If so, take something along in case of possible yeast infection or simply look at the other medication options. Better that than malaria. I guess it depends on your tolerance for risk....

Malarone is about $8/pill on the East coast (or $176 for 22 pills, enough if you start one day before) or about $6/pill at Costco. Doxy is very cheap and many insurance companies will pay for it even though they technically don't cover "malaria pills." I suspect they see "inexpensive antibiotic" and not "malaria pill" when the claim is filed.

I'm getting ready to start with malarone in a day or so. Any difference on whether I take it at night or during the day? My husband is thinking at breakfast is better to have it coursing strongly through his veins while out and about (?) but I would prefer night time in case there's any kind of queasiness or whatever that I could sleep through.

The protocol for Malarone indicates to take with "dairy" that is often available at breakfast - cheese, milk, yougurt. But always with food. Some choose to take at night with dinner meal, feeling that if they have some reaction, they'll sleep thru it. Guess any reaction could be because one didn't take with dairy product.

Doxy is one of the older antibiotics why the possibility of Thrush/discharge vs newer antibiotics whose formulas have since been changed and Thrush is no longer an issue.

The expense for whichever malaria med, is just another cost when deciding on a trip to many safari countries. When deciding whether to take meds or not, realize being bitten or contracting Malaria (a nasty disease), isn't a good option in my opinion!

shanon
Regarding the "need" - when are you going and where?

We have visited in Feb - shortly prior to the "wet" season and we have visited in June - after the "long" rains.
We visited Tarangira, South and North/West Serengeti, Crater.

It's a personal thing whether you are "taking" the risk. We never had any bad experience but always used a insect repellent and used our own mosquito net where the net hasn't been provided by the camps.

We also don't take Malarone in Zambia, Botswana, SA or Zimbabwe.

As stated - it's a personal decision.

Doxy: I took it once and it was a nightmare! My skin became so sensitive towards sunrays so that I walked literally the Makgadikgadi pan/Botswana with an umbrella.
I would not touch Doxy under any circumstance.

Just state when and where you are going.

Re; sun sensitivity with Doxy: I (a blonde) took it with no problems. Someone else in my office took it, went to a beach, didn't put sunscreen on their feet, and ended up with blisters. It just depends on the individual. (For what it's worth I can't take mefloquine/Lariam due to a history of irregular heart rhythm, and Malarone gave me a new canker sore/mouth ulcer every day I took one...switched to Doxy without waiting to see what my mouth would look like after three weeks!)

AFAIK malaria kills about 1 million people per year. I'm not sure what the number of deaths due to thrush is.

As is shown by all these personal anecdotes, you are not going to get much sensible advice as no-one here is qualified to provide it and no-one knows your medical history.

See your doctor or a travel clinic.

If you want advice on whether malaria is prevalent when and where you are going there are probably people on here who can advise or there are malarial maps published by various organisations like CDC or WHO. Easily found by google.

Ask 100 people and you're going to get 100 different opinions. I'm finishing up almost seven weeks of doxy with absolutely no ill effects whatsoever, (after getting sick from Malarone on my last trip.) All I can say is, any of the side effects would be preferable to getting malaria.

I have always taken Malerone. You have to question the costs, is this just pharmaceuticals overpricing because they can?
I have never been bitten, but think this is part of the deal when travelling, and an "insurance" that may never get used, but a should-do just in case.
The biggest conundrum is you will never see the benefit (ie not getting malaria may or may not be due to the drug), but might see the downside if you don't....

If you only start taking malarone a day or 2 before you leave, it doesn't give you much time prior to departure to determine any side effects and then change to something different.

Was going to take malarone simply because it sounds like the easiest, but don't want to find out while in Africa that I can't take it. hmmmmm

Here (Greece) Malarone costs 29.37€/12 tabs. And yes, pharmaceuticals will profiteer whenever they can. Who wouldn't ? Of course it has to do with how exactly each country treats the big pharma and the "compensations" the governments receive for allowing a rather "relaxed" pricing...

Some countries negotiate the the big pharmas and/or subsidize drugs, why you see a relatively low price for Malarone in Greece as micmic shows.

Hi again everyone,
Talked to the pharmacist and he recommended the Malarone, since he had taken it with no side affects....oh well, guess I will quit sweating the small stuff!! Its so funny because I never read travel advisories before and have went to Mexico and Belize without taking anything or getting any shots....watch this time I will get sick!!
Thanks for all your advice

We got a discount on the Malarone using our "County Rx Program". It saved us a little - maybe $50.

We take Pepto pills whenever we travel. I take one a day, DH takes 2. It just prevents the minor tummy issues from changes in water, food, etc. Some people think those minor symptoms are from the Malarone when it might just be from jet lag or food changes. DH even takes them when we travel in US, as he is very sensitive to water changes. We have very "soft" water at home, so any minerals in harder water are difficult. The Pepto works well for us.