Malarone Tablets 16 to 374 tablets

How to take Malarone?

Malarone should be taken 1-2 days before entering the malarial area, whilst in the malarial area and for seven days after leaving the malarial area. It should be taken once at the same time each day, preferably with food or a milky drink, as it helps to absorb the tablet more effectively whilst helping to reduce any gastrointestinal (stomach-related) side effects. It is important to remember to continue to take Malarone for seven days after having left the malaria zone, as this will ensure to kill any parasites that may be present in your body, stopping you from getting malaria.

Severe reactions are possible, but these occur in only a few people. You should stop taking Malarone and contact your GP immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:

• Rash
• Itching
• Sudden wheezing
• Tightness of the chest or throat or difficulty breathing
• Swollen eyelids, face, lips, tongue or other part of the body

Severe reactions can also occur on the skin. Speak to your GP urgently if you notice any skin reactions whilst taking Malarone. These include: 

• Erythema multiforme – this causes a rash on the skin which may blister and have central dark spots with a paler area and dark ring around the edge
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome – this causes a severe rash which is spread across the skin with blisters and peeling, typically occurring around the mouth, nose, eyes and genital region

The following side effects tend to be mild and not last very long: 

Very common (affect more than 1 in 10 people): 

• Headache
• Feeling sick and being sick
• Stomach pain

Common side effects (affect up to 1 in 10 people): 

• Feeling dizzy
• Insomnia and strange dreams
• Depression
• A loss of appetite
• Fever
• A rash which may be itchy
• Coughing

Other common side effects may show up in your blood tests, these include: 

• Anaemia – a decline in the number of red blood cells which can cause tiredness, headaches and shortness of breath
• Neutropenia – a reduced number of white blood cells, making you more prone to infections
• Hyponatraemia – low levels of sodium in the blood
• An increase in liver enzymes

You must not take Malarone and tell your doctor if either of these apply to you:

• You’re allergic to atovaquone, proguanil hydrochloride or any of the ingredients of this medicine
• For prevention – if you have severe kidney disease

Seek advice from your GP or pharmacist before taking Malarone if:

• You have severe kidney disease
• Your child is being treated for Malaria and weighs less th

It’s important to tell your GP or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines. You should also inform them of any medicines you may have recently taken or might take, including those you’ve bought without a prescription. This is because some medications can affect the way Malarone works and Malarone can also strengthen or weaken the effect of some medicines, such as:

• Metoclopramide – treats nausea and vomiting
• Antibiotics – tetracycline, rifampicin and rifabutin
• Efavirenz or certain highly active protease – used to treat HIV
• Warfarin and other medicines – stops blood clotting
• Etoposide – treats cancer

Your doctor will assess whether Malarone is suitable for you, or whether you need extra checkups while you’re taking it.

Malarone and alcohol

There is no interaction between Malarone and alcohol, and you can drink whilst taking these tablets.

Unless necessary, pregnant women should try to avoid destinations where there is a risk of malaria. This is because pregnant women have a high risk of developing malaria that is more severe in comparison to non-pregnant women. Malaria can also cause complications in pregnancy such as miscarriage, stillbirth or premature labour. As well as this, it can also affect the normal growth of the foetus.

If travel to areas where malaria is present cannot be avoided, seek medical advice from your doctor about which malaria tablets malaria pills to take. Your doctor will decide whether the benefits of taking antimalarials outweigh the risks, considering how far you are into your pregnancy. You should postpone trying to get pregnant until after you have finished your course. If you discover that you are pregnant whilst taking Malarone, you should consult your doctor.

Malarone is not considered to be safe in those that are breastfeeding and should be avoided. You should speak to your doctor about which malaria tablets are most suitable for you to take.

• British National Formulary. (n.d.). Atovaquone with Proguanil Hydrochloride. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/atovaquone-with-proguanil-hydrochloride/