Information and Side Effects

If signs of unexplained anxiety, depression, restlessness or confusion are noticed, these may be considered prodromal to convulsions and the drug must be stopped.

Travellers taking mefloquine, who find continued side effects unacceptable, should switch to either chloroquine plus proguanil or doxycycline and not take mefloquine again. If mefloquine is used for prophylaxis, halofantrine should not be used for treatment since it may lead to potentially fatal prolongation of the QTC interval.

Doxycycline is usually well tolerated and the most common adverse  effects are:

• gastro-intestinal disturbances such as nausea and diarrhoea
• photosensitivity (characterized by an exaggerated sunburn reaction)
• various dermatological reactions
• vaginal candidiasis

Doxycycline is contraindicated during pregnancy, in breast-feeding  mothers and in children under 8 years of age, as it can seriously damage tooth  development. Doxycycline is not recommended for longer than 3 months (due to lack of  safety data for long-term use of daily 100 mg administration). It is an option to consider  for epileptic patients who have to enter a high-risk chloroquine-resistant malaria area.

These are only the clinical side effects, sub clinical side effects are unknown.

No antibiotic should be taken unless you have been diagnosed with a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are not preventative medicine.

If you have to take Antibiotics, we recommend you take a full spectrum probiotic and liver support to protect yourself from unwanted side effects.