Mefloquine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antimalaria

Generic and brand names: mefloquine, oral; Lariam

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat malaria. It is also used to prevent malaria when you travel in areas where the disease is common.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• heart disease
• a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia
• liver problems
• seizures

Vaccinations should be given at least 3 days before you start taking this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. Avoid becoming pregnant when you travel in areas where malaria is common. Do not become pregnant for at least 3 months after the last dose of this medicine. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your healthcare provider. Do not take it on an empty stomach. Take the medicine with food or after a meal. Drink a large glass of water with each dose. The tablet may be crushed and mixed with milk, juice, or applesauce to make it easier to swallow.

If you are taking this medicine to prevent malaria, your health care provider may want you to start taking it a week or more before you travel. You will keep taking the medicine while you travel and for several weeks after you leave the area.

It is important that you keep taking this medicine for the full time your provider ordered. If you have serious side effects and cannot take the medicine, contact your healthcare provider right away. You need to get another medicine to protect you from malaria.

What if I miss a dose?

If you take this medicine once every 7 days and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember then skip another 7 days until your next dose. If you take one or more doses a day and miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: irregular heartbeat, dizziness, change in behavior.

What should I watch out for?

You need to have blood tests or check ups regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Have your eyes examined more often while you are taking this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you notice: new or increased thoughts of suicide or changes in mood or behavior such as becoming irritable or anxious.

This medicine may cause dizziness or affect your sense of balance even after you stop taking it. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are alert and steady on your feet.

If you are taking this medicine to treat malaria, contact your provider if your symptoms don't improve within a few days or if they get worse.

Do not take any other medicines unless they are approved by the healthcare provider who prescribed this one.

Carry the drug information card in your wallet for as long as you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Some side effects may occur even after you stop taking this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Vomiting, extreme dizziness, confusion, depression, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, restlessness, hallucinations, fever, seizures, mouth sores, irregular heart rate, unusual bleeding or bruising, changes in vision.

Other: Headache, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, stomach pain, tiredness, ringing in your ears, muscle pains, loss of appetite, bad dreams, trouble sleeping.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiseizure medicines such as valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote), phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and gabapentin (Neurontin)
• antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), brompheniramine (Dimetane), and hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)
• beta blocker medicines such as propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol, sotalol (Betapace), nadolol (Corgard), labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate), carvedilol (Coreg), and atenolol (Tenormin)
• other medicines to treat malaria such as chloroquine (Aralen) and quinine
• live vaccines such as typhoid
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nicardipine (Cardene, Cardene SR), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), and quinidine
• phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and thioridazine
• St. John's wort
• tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), desipramine (Norpramin), and doxepin (Sinequan)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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