Malaria meds & Cambodia
 

3 of us will be in Siem Reap the end of the month. Have gotten 2 different recommendations for malaria pills. Our local health department recommends doxycycline (taken daily 2 days before, then during and 4 weeks after Siem Reap), while another recommends another that is taken for a shorter length of time. I am curious about what other Fodorites have used. Thanks -

The other is probably Malerone which for most people has no side effects. However for me, it acts as a laxative. Doxycycline has the side effect of oversensitivity to the sun so if you take it, do remember to protect yourself.

I'm taking doxy right now (just returned from Africa) - for four weeks. Some members of our trip took Malerone, which yes, is just two weeks. I've had no problem with the doxy - AS LONG as I take it with a meal. I took it once on an empty stomach and felt a bit of nausea.

My husband & I took doxycycline which our Dr. recommended and had no problem with it.

Both doxycycline and malarone are effective anti-malarials. They are the only two anti-malarials that are effective in that area.

Thanks for the feedback. One of the hospital workers said so much doxycycline would mean yeast infections. Good to know others have had positive experiences. (I am sun-sensitive anyway, so sunscreen is part of my routine.) Again, thanks.

Hi there,

I am not long returned from India and I am in my last week on Doxycycline. No great side effects apart from sun sensitivity. So make sure you use a good sunscreen.

As has been mentioned, do make sure you have something in your stomach when you take it otherwise it can make you feel a little queasy.

Cheers

Steve

We were given Malarone for our Malaysia/Thailand and Cambodia/Burma/India trips. My husband and I had NO side effects either time. Cambodia and Burma were highly infested with mosquitoes in Jan and Feb--so be sure to take something.

I take Malarone when in SEA (or anywhere there is malaria for that matter) and my husband takes Lariam (sp?). Neither of us have ever had any side effects. I like Malarone better than Doxy (have taken that too but hate having to take it for weeks on end).

Note that there is larium resistant malaria in the Thai/Cambodia/Laos/Burma border areas, so many travel medicine specialists will not prescribe larium for anyplace in mainland SE Asia.

Kathie, thanks for pointing that out. I'll have to tell my husband. I know he likes it because you only have to take it once a week but if it's not effective then he'll have to go with something else. I personally am afraid to take Larium since it has had the unfortunate effect of making some people a bit psycho. We're going to Malaysia in Sept so I guess I'd better check if there is larium resistant malaria there as well.

Laurie, there is not yet any larium-resistant malaria in Malaysia, so he should be fine there. Where are you going in Malaysia that you'll need anti-malarials?

Generally the most up to date source on malarial-risk areas and prevention is the cdc website, www.cdc.gov/travel

Kathie, thanks for the info. We'll be in Borneo for half the trip, which I've read has a malaria risk.

Yes, Borneo does have risk. I was hoping you were going to Borneo, as it's a place I want to go. Where are you staying? I'll look forward to your report!

We're starting in KL for 3 nights at the Mandarin Oriental, then flying to Sandakan (Sabah) and spending a couple of nights at the Sabah Hotel, then off to Kuching (Sarawak) for a few nights at the Kuching Hilton. From there we're taking a boat to Batang Ai for 2 nights at the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort and then back to Kuching for another night at the Hilton. From there we're flying to Penang for a few nights at the Eastern & Oriental and back to KL for 2 more nights at the MO. I'm really looking forward to this having never been to Malaysia. I'm getting used to this Jungle thing, having gone to the Amazon Basin last Sept, and just got back from Costa Rica a couple of days ago and spending lots of time in rainforests. Now the jungles of Borneo! Of course this time, we'll be doing it in relative luxury. When we were in the Amazon, we spent several nights in Bolivia in a hut on stilts without electricity or hot water. In Borneo, we're staying in suites!

laurie, it sounds great! Thanks for the info on your itinerary. I am looking forward to your report!

Kathie, I'll be sure to do a report but it won't be until October when I return! Right now, I have to start putting together a trip report for the Costa Rica forum. Having never written one, I'm a bit flummoxed but determined to write one. (Besides, I promised those folks that I would!)