Anti-malaria drug limited due to risks

[unhappycamper]

Anti-malaria drug limited due to risks
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, March 5, 2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Army has limited the use of the anti-malaria drug mefloquine, widely known by the brand name Lariam, because of its risks for soldiers with other health issues.

In cases where mefloquine and doxycycline are both effective in preventing malaria, doxycycline should be the "drug of choice," the Army surgeon general wrote in a Feb. 2 memo.

Mefloquine should be used only in cases where soldiers cannot take doxycycline, Lt. Gen. Eric Schoomaker wrote.

While mefloquine has been used extensively to prevent malaria, Schoomaker wrote, it can be risky to use for soldiers who are taking other medications or who face medical conditions such as the following:

* Depression
* Traumatic brain injury or symptomatic TBI.
* Convulsions.
* Generalized anxiety disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia or any other major psychiatric disorder.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61126



uhc comment: Here's a link to the Army document --> http://www.stripes.com/09/mar09/mefloquine_update2.pdf