Uh, the alcohol issue, is not really the primary reason not to take Malarone, or did you not look at the side effects listed above?

You know, the FDA information is contained in the package insert, but you can do your own research on this, because the internet is there to be used for that purpose. The FDA information is there, too, and believe it or not, if you have a good doctor, your doctor should be able to advise you accordingly. Wow. This reaction is very... strange to me. You would think people would find it helpful to see that there are alternate, less toxic treatments to a very expensive drug, but apparently not!

The alcohol prohibition DOES make sense, if the drug can affect your liver. However, the Travel Medical Clinic was the one who advised me not to take alcohol with the drug, for that reason, and if I were taking those pills, then I would not drink.

But filmwell, I'm afraid I can't follow your logic. I just returned from India/Nepal, where you must take a malaria prophylactic, particularly in Chitwan, where malaria is most prevalent.

I hate to tell you this, but I'm living proof that you can take doxycycline for 6 weeks and be particularly hale and healthy! Not only did I have no side effects, because it is a very safe drug, but I had the added benefit of taking it while I got a chest cold, and unlike my fellow travelers, I was able to kick the infection within a few days, which would not have normally been the case. That's why my Dr. agreed with me, after I did some research on the subject, that he thought it would work well for me, with that added benefit that I received for bacterial infections. He was right.

But my dear, no one is forcing anyone to take anything they don't want to take, or believe anything you don't want to believe. I mean, my god, knock yourself out if you want to take Malarone! Pay the 90.00, and maybe you won't have any side effects, but if you do, and you have to quit taking it in the middle of a long travel journey to India, where malaria is endemic, then you're going to be in a serious situation.

If people are going to get SO UPSET because they think that they MUST take a 90.00 medication because that's what the drug companies want you to take, why, by all means, go ahead. I'm providing information that is an alternate therapy that works as well, at a fraction of the cost, and provides added benefits as well.

Putting the discussion of which drug is better, or safer...Does one really need to worry about MALARIA RISK if only planning to be in BKK, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as Pukhet? We will also be visiting points on a way to the Golden Triangle..?

Again. $40.

HT, I promise, I won't feed it anymore.

You crack me up. ;)

h, lol. rotf.:-)

i withdraw my post.....all i was pointing out was that malaria areas change from time to time and please do not rely on old information...

it must be a full fodors moon...

Can we now please argue about whether to wear teva sandals or closed shoes on elephants?

This thread brings up an ongoing fodors conundrum. How does one properlt regard the information provided on this forum. Does one take it as gospel or does one disregard it? One of the posters on thread just posted a very useful trip report. It had all the classic elemnets of a helpful report., e.g., hotels, activities, food, transport. The report was informational and non-judgemental. here's the information, do with it as you will. Like I say calssic.

On this thread, the same poster has elected to jump in with constant confrontational posts, belittling the opinion's of others and using "information" as a hammer. The posts are judgemental and derogatory (look it up Bob). There is a quality of mean-spiritedness about them. All they do is make me question the veracity of the trip report.

KJ-the poster to whom I refer is certainly not you. She may know who she is. There is hint of espionage about her personna. No flimwill, it's not you either, even though I'm sure you have ample intrigue.

The problem with message boards is that sometimes, to the new user, some misinformation looks and sounds authoritative enough to be believed without confirmation. But, at least in this case, the information is incomplete in some areas, and incorrect in others. Complete and correct information is essential, especially when considering health.

Interesting that my requests for scientific proof of the claims were ignored save for a poorly formatted copy of part of the data from a study. The data posted I was able to find myself in the end, and low and behold, it did not support the claims that Malarone had serious side effects, caused psychiatric events or was incompatible with alcohol...it did show, however, that Malarone was right on par with placebo in terms of side effects. The study also did not consider doxy versus Malarone, which is the question here. I found studies that did, and Malarone comes out ahead by a bit, not much, but a bit, in terms of tolerability.

The efficacy of doxy for mallaria prevention has not been questioned. As a treatment, it must be combined with chlorquine. It is contraindicated for children under 8 - 12, depending on how conservative the authority is. It is also contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers. So the claim that "anyone can take it" is false. Women taking birth control pills should use a second form of birth control while taking doxy, as the effect of the bcp may be compromised. If you have liver or kidney disease you may not be able to take doxy. It does have side effects and contraindications, lIke all medications. It is not safer or less safe than Malarone according to all sources I have seen for most people, but Malarone is deemed safer for children, pregnant women, nursing women.

Malarone also has side effects, but the good thiing is that they are uncommon enough to make Malarone almost indistinguishable from placebo. It does not have the troublesome side effects of sun sensitivity or candida overgrowth that doxycycline can have. According to statistics and anecdotal evidence, it is easier on the stomach. It is fine to consume alcohol while taking Malarone.

It is certainly not kept a secret that there are several drugs options for malaria prophylaxis. Any doctor who does not explain all of your options without prompting is lazy, uninformed or both.

And finally, some information from Pfizer.

"Doxycycline does not suppress P. falciparum’s sexual blood stage gametocytes. Subjects
completing this prophylactic regimen may still transmit the infection to mosquitoes outside
endemic areas." Hence its nickname "the selfish antimalarial."

"Prescribing Vibramycin in the absence of proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a
prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the
development of drug-resistant bacteria."

There are pages of cautions, contraindications, and side effects. Too much to post here.
http://media.pfizer.com/files/produc...vibra-tabs.pdf

In the end, doxy is the probably the least expensive option. It is also effective for preventing malaria in the patient using the drug, but not 100% (no drug is 100% effective). It is not at all free from side effects, and certainly there are many people who should not take it.

End.

I know you said "End", but this thread is getting me interested in not just internet sociology, but also organic chemistry and pharmaceutical economics.

- Mosquitos can catch malaria from people who have taken doxy?

- You have to take doxy for FOUR weeks after leaving a malaria area?

- Six weeks of doxy for $6? Such a deal.

And, finally....If you are spending several thousand dollars to go to Asia, would an extra $84 prevent you from taking the more-recommended medicine?

(Assuming the Malarone is in fact $90...Ours was $5 each through our mediocre insurance policy.)

The mosquitos can catch malaria from people who take doxy is something that was explained to me by a very good friend who is a malaria and lyme disease expert, a professor at UMASS Amherst. It is a slight chance. It is supported by the statement I quoted from Pfizer's drug information sheet, link provided above. When I was researching medications, my expert friend mentioined that doxy was the "selfish antimalarial" and explained it...but at that time, it was not included in prescribing info. Now it is.

All sources agree that that doxy must be continued for 28 days after leaving the risk area...except some outdated sources in Australia. I have read several studies which addressed whether 2 weeks was enough, and results indicated it was not, with several patients in the 2 week group developing malaria. CDC, WHO, Pfizer, they all agree, 4 weeks.

Doxy is cheaper. In our case, much cheaper, but we still chose Malarone even at increased cost, (for us, $10.00 per pill!) due to it's side effect profile (almost none), appropriateness for children, and good track record.

Interesting stuff, isn't it? I tell you, I really learned a lot about malaria and meds last year, and it is all interesting to me.

End? :)

One for the road - the result of my experiment is that I woke up with a big head ache!

Two for the Klong - time line - 5 hours after getting up I now feel like I have diarrhoea!

h, well, that was no help. how do we know what caused your discomfort? i think it might be the red bull. lol. pau.