the dr. prescribed malarone for my trip to the rainforest near
Puerto Maldonado. we will be there in early June for about 4 days.
are malaria meds needed?

Wouldn't you think your doctor would know more about whether malaria meds were needed than a message board?

Here's a link to the CDC website, and, yes, malaria prophylaxis is recommended for where you are traveling.

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationPeru.aspx

Yellow fever vaccine is recommded as well. Did you get that?

I would definitely be taking my malaria meds for a trip like that... That is not something you want to take the risk with - 3 of my folks got malaria from a trip to Togo - and they said it was not fun.... Better safe than sorry....

thanks JeanH...
drs prescribe and there are always side effects for meds for some. the possible side effects for malaria meds are pretty detrimental for some as well. a long way from home to combat bad side effects.
all other vaccines have been done. but as Debi mentioned, better safe than sorry.

We took Malarone last year when we went to Africa with absolutely no side effects. Our doctor suggested taking it with a meal, preferably with dairy products such as yogurt. We will also be taking it again this summer when we travel to the Amazon. Enjoy your trip and don't worry about taking the Malarone.

There are side effects possible for all meds. The MD has to judge those against the possibility of the effects of the illness. It is the risk/reward ratio. Apparently he/she feels that taking the meds is best, and so does the CDC.

We took malarone in Botswana without problem.

I know this thread is a few months old but I have to jump in and tell you about my experience w/Malarone. It made me feel so weak I just wanted to sleep all the time. After my trip I was told to take it for an additional 7 days but during that time I went to the doctor to ask if there was anything else I could take instead. She said there's really nothing better and to finish taking the Malarone.

It may be the best thing out there but as Jed said, there can be side effects for all meds and there certainly were for me. But all that said, it still beats the heck out of getting malaria!!

have taken malarone twice without any side effects whatsoever.

www.mdtravelhealth.com Brazil

Just got back from our 20 day South American adventure and took Malarone the whole trip with absolutely no side effects. Our physician told us to take it with dairy products, so every morning we took it with yogurt, fruit and milk.

Our family of four (2 adults, 2 teens) took Malarone in SE Asia with absolutely no side effects. We took it every night with dinner.

Hey there, thought I'd jump as a malarial sufferer.

First and foremost, I have taken Malarone, Larium, Doxcycline and so on. They are not 100 per cent effective, this you must remember.

But you must take a drug. Do not catch malaria.

I have vivax contracted in the Brazilian amazon - admittedly I was more at risk that most working for long periods of time there - but I took the anti malarials and was struck down. I now have the strain for life, caught in 2003 and I have since had a relapse.

They had to increase my dosages to cure me which has done some pretty nasty stuff to my internal organs...these drugs are strong.

Another thing - I had a girl in my keep who was prescribed anti malarial drugs for Rio just because he looked at a chart that said there was malaria in Brasil. Speak to your Doc and use common sense.

I have taken both Larium and Malarone at different times during my trips to East and West Africa, India and the Amazon. Never had any side effects. My son who was 12 and 13 during several of the trips had no side effects either. On my recent trip to Brazil, I was more concerned with dengue fever for which there is no prophylaxis. I would take a strong insect repellent with a high percentage of deet. I always visit a travel medicine clinic before one of my more "exotic trips." They usually have the best advice.