Mefloquine
One product sits on this shelf: Lariam (mefloquine 250 mg tablets), the antimalarial used to treat and prevent malaria in travellers heading to areas where the disease is common.
Key points
- Mefloquine may cause serious nervous system side effects, including dizziness, spinning sensations, ringing in the ears and loss of balance.
- The medicine reduces but does not eliminate the risk of malaria; mosquito-avoidance measures remain necessary.
- Do not take mefloquine if you are allergic to quinidine or quinine.
How does mefloquine work?
Mefloquine kills the organisms that cause malaria once they enter red blood cells. Lariam was the original brand, developed by Roche, and comes as a 250 mg tablet. The medicine falls under Antiparasitics, the category for medicines that target parasites. For background on the disease, see Malaria.