520

We're leaving for our 20 day Burma trip on Thanksgiving. We'll be in Nyaungshwe/Lake Inle for four nights and on a Pandaw cruise for ten. Our travel dr. prescribed malaria meds for DH and me for the trip, but I wonder whether they're necessary. The CDC site isn't the clearest about the need for them, although it does specify the Shah state as one where malaria drugs are advised.

Would be great to hear from those who have been in Inle in late November (not generally mosquito season) or traveled on a river cruise at this time of year. I don't remember anyone besides the Dogster doing a Pandaw cruise, but I could easily be mistaken!

Kathie

I've been in Burma in Nov and into December twice. I found that no matter where we were, I got some mosquito bites - even in Bagan, which is very dry. This is in spite of using a good repellant.

Basically, the cdc site says that all of Burma except for the cities of Yangon and Mandalay at places at high altitude are malarial risk. Here is the malarial risk map: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/desti...laria-map.aspx

As you can see, all of the territory you pass through on yoru cruise is malarial risk.

We took malarone for both of our trips.

520

Thanks, Kathie--we pretty much knew that the meds were necessary, but thought we might as well check. The good dr. prescribed Malarone, which we took when we went to Vietnam and Cambodia. The only side effect we both had were strange dreams, but having to take them every day over such an extended period was/is a bit of a drag.

Also, the Malarone is much pricier this time round than we remembered.

Kathie

Malarone is available in the US as a generic. Ask your pharmacy if they can get the generic (sometimes it is in short supply), as it will save you money. Also, Costco has the best prices in the US on Malarone (and you don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy).

filmwill

On a somewhat related note, we went to Costco last weekend...this time to pick up our 21 day supply of generic Malarone (since neither of our insurance takes covers it anymore.) I was blown away that even at the "discounted" price, Atovaquone-Proguanil was still $120 each for 21 pills.

It definitely has gotten more expensive.

Kathie

Wow - that is more expensive than it was. Sorry to hear that.

520

Costco was also more expensive for Malarone than our local Duane Reade; we had already requested the generic from our doc, who's approved it--DR charges $85 for the amount prescribed ( I think 30 for each of us) for the generic.

Kathie

Useful info, 520. The marketplace has changed.

520

I believe we had a coupon from DR for an $85 special discount for the A/Pro. It may not be available everywhere, and probably not all the time.

Kathie

You are right that the generic is not available all of the time. Last year Cheryl and I filled our prescriptions a few days apart. She got the generic at a great price - I got the name brand malarone at significantly more, as the pharmacy said the generic was not available.