Green Pages Where There Is No Doctor 2011 365
Mefloquine (familiar brand name: Lariam)
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in: tablets of 250 mg.
Mefloquine is used with artesunate to treat
falciparum malaria. Mefloquine can also be used
alone for malaria prevention.
Precautions and side effects: Mefloquine
should not be taken by persons with epilepsy
or mental illness. Pregnant women should take
mefloquine only if they are not able to get another
medicine. Persons with heart problems should
get experienced medical advice before taking
this medicine. Take with a large meal. Mefloquine
sometimes causes strange behavior, confusion,
anxiety, seizures or unconsciousness. If any of
these signs develop, stop taking mefloquine
immediately. Other side effects include dizziness,
stomach upset, headache, and vision problems.
Side effects are more frequent and severe with
higher doses used for treatment.
Dosage of mefloquine:
For treatment of falciparum malaria:
Give one dose on the second day of taking
artesunate, then on the third day give the second,
smaller dose:
adults: first 4 tablets, then 2 tablets
(1500 mg. total)
children 7 to 13 years: first 2 tablets,
then 1 tablet (750 mg. total)
children 1 to 6 years: ½ tablet, then another
½ tablet (250 mg. total)
babies 5 months to 1 year: ¼ tablet, then
another ¼ tablet (125 mg. total)
Also give artesunate.
For prevention of malaria:
Give once a week continuing until 4 weeks after
leaving malaria area.
adults: 1 tablet (250 mg.)
children over 45 kg.: 1 tablet (250 mg.)
children 31 to 45 kg.: ¾ tablet (188 mg.)
children 20 to 30 kg.: ½ tablet (125 mg.)
children 15 to 19 kg.: ¼ tablet (63 mg.)
children under 15 kg.: not recommended
Amodiaquine
Name:__________________ price: _______ for_ ______
Often comes in: 153 or 200 mg. tablets
Amodiaquine is used with artesunate to treat
falciparum malaria. Amodiaquine and artesunate
sometimes come together in a combined tablet.
This combination may be less safe for people with
HIV.
Dosage of amodiaquine—using tablets of 153 mg.
For treatment of falciparum malaria, give once a
day for 3 days. In each dose give:
adults and children over 13 years: 4 tablets
children 7 to 13 years: 2 tablets
children 1 to 6 years: 1 tablet
children 5 months to 1 year: ½ tablet
Also give artesunate.
Quinine
(quinine sulfate or quinine bisulfate)
Name: _________________ price: _______ for_ ______
Often comes in: tablets of 300 mg. or 650 mg.
Quinine is used to treat resistant falciparum
malaria (malaria that does not get better with other
medicines) and severe malaria, including malaria
that affects the brain. For resistant falciparum
malaria, it should be taken along with Artemisinin
Combination Therapy (ACT). For women in the first
3 months of pregnancy, quinine with clindamycin
can be used to treat falciparum malaria instead of
ACT.
If vomiting is a problem when giving quinine by
mouth, a medicine such as promethazine may help.
Side effects: Quinine sometimes causes sweaty
skin, ringing of the ears or impaired hearing,
blurred vision, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and
diarrhea.
Dosage of quinine—using tablets of 300 mg.
for treating resistant falciparum malaria.
Give 3 times a day for 3 days:
adults: 2 tablets (600 mg.)
children 10 to 15 years: 1 ½ tablets (450 mg.)
children 6 to 9 years: 1 tablet (300 mg.)
children 3 to 5 years: ½ tablet (150 mg.)
children 1 to 2 years: ¼ tablet (75 mg.)
babies under 1 year: 1⁄8 tablet (38 mg.)
Also give ACT.