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| Pronunciation |
|
 (ME
floe
kwin) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Lariam® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antimalarial Agent |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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If you have an allergy to mefloquine or any other part of this
medicine.
Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
If you have any of the following conditions: Depression, electrical
abnormalities of the heart, fast heartbeat, psychosis, or seizures.
If you are taking any of these medicines: Chloroquine, halofantrine,
quinidine, or quinine.
If you are pregnant or may be pregnant. |
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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This medicine is used to prevent or treat
malaria. |
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|
| How does it work? |
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Mefloquine protects you from getting malaria.
It works to injure the bacteria and fight the
infection. |
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| How is it best taken? |
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|
This medicine should be started before travel to the high risk area.
Continue use after leaving the area.
To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
Use prescription as directed, to prevent malaria.
Take this medicine with food.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
To treat malaria, take a single dose. To prevent recurrence of
infection, take this medicine with another
antibiotic. |
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
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Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
If you miss a dose before leaving for your trip, call healthcare
provider for instructions.
If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and
return to your regular schedule.
Do not take a double dose or extra doses. |
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
If you have liver disease, talk with healthcare provider.
Other protective measures are needed along with this medicine
including using screens, bednetting, insect repellent (10% to 35% DEET), and
permethrin spray on clothing and nets. Avoid spraying most insect repellents on
children. Decrease evening and night-time outdoor activity.
Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) or other medicines
and natural products that slow your actions and reactions. These include
sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, antihistamines, and other pain
medicine.
Use birth control that you can trust to prevent pregnancy while
taking this medicine.
Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding. |
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
Treatment of malaria:
Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
Feeling lightheaded, sleepy, having blurred vision, or a change in
thinking clearly. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that require
you to be alert or have clear vision until you see how this medicine affects
you.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Prevention of malaria:
Feeling dizzy. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or lying
position. Be careful climbing.
Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care,
sucking hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
Psychosis can rarely occur.
Seizures can rarely occur. |
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| What should I monitor? |
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Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the
same? |
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
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If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center
immediately or dial 911.
Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest
tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of
face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, nervousness,
emotional ups and downs, abnormal thinking, anxiety, or lack of interest in
life.
Chest pain or pressure or fast heartbeat.
Severe dizziness or passing out.
Difficulty breathing.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Any rash.
No improvement in condition or feeling
worse. |
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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Store at room temperature.
Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or
kitchen. |
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| General statements |
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Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products,
supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare
provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter, natural products, or
vitamins. |
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