Hi,

Im off to India and South East Asia in March and would like some advice about which Malaria pills to take. I am aware that Lariam and Mefloquine are bad and will cause me to hallucinate.

Doctor has offered me Malarone or doxycycline; has anybody tried these and have an idea of the cost. I imagine im going to need approximately 120 day supply.

Cheers,
Badgers_like_holidays_too

Malarone is roughly £2.50 a day.
Doxy is roughly £0.60 per day.

You say that you will have hallucinations on Larium.
Have you actually tried Larium before and know this, or have you just read the literature?

Malarone is roughly £2.50 a day.
Doxy is roughly £0.60 per day.

You say that you will have hallucinations on Larium.
Have you actually tried Larium before and know this, or have you just read the literature?
Read it on BBC and the doctor has told me he has had patients reporting such problems. One of my friends also suffered hallucinations whilst taking it.

Taken Malarone on my last couple of trips with no obvious side effects.

There are side effects to using Doxy long-term as well.
Don't forget the periods of recommended use before and after travel.

Lariam is around £4 per tablet but you will only take one per week.

I would hesitate to make the decision on price alone.
What parts of which countries are you going to?

I took Malarone for a visit to India (Mumbai, Pune, Indore & Dewas) but it wasn't the recommended one for that area. Its expensive (2.50 a day seems cheap ? I seem to recall paying around £40 for 2 week trip). Taken them twice and have been extremely ill - its difficult to tell if it was the tablets or whether I picked up something whilst there.

Malarone is by far the best in terms of effectiveness and lack of bad side effects.

.... I seem to recall paying around £40 for 2 week trip ...

2 week trip + 1 day before + 7 days after = 22 days!

boots know exactly wot u need very helpful wen i went

Whatever medication you choose to take using deet (100%) stops the little sods biting you in the first place.

Get it from CCC or any serious camping or travel shop.

MUST BE 100% and nothing less regardless of what they want to sell you in the shop.

Put it on your socks and it stops the ants as well.

PS - don't forget about other common travel problems like hepititus. Common in south east asia and it's a simple free injuection before you go to shield your self.

Where in SE asia are you going ?

I have taken Larium and never again.
It does cause nasty side effects, in me anyway.

Not hallucinations but 'you are not youself'. I would advise against it.

I going to:
Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Shimla, Amritsar, Goa, Singapore, Kuala Lumpar, Bangkok, Phuket, Chang-Mai, Seim Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh then to China

I going to:
Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Shimla, Amritsar, Goa, Singapore, Kuala Lumpar, Bangkok, Phuket, Chang-Mai, Seim Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh then to China

You lucky sod.

If you want any suggestion as to places to stay/places to go/bars to get nissed in in KL I'm your man.
I know a very clean hotel in KL at RM80/night that is well handy for all the fun places.

Are you alone as I can arrange for some mates to meet you and show you the best boozers. They will skank you for beer but will then supply the vodka for the all nighters at the steamboat stand.

I know a tuk tuk guy on phuket that won't rip you off much and will show you all the best places to visit.
Bangkok is a filthy crap hole but well worth seeing for a few days.

PM me and I'll let you have the numbers.

In KL you could try staying along Jalan Bukit Bintang - relatively cheap but not upmarket if that is your thing.

If you need tips on Singapore, feel free to ask me as I am a native of that god forsaken sinking ship.

Some good eats in Singapore - Chilli Crab, Durians (some say it smells like smelly feet - not me!), BBq'ed sting ray, satay, etc.

Edit: In Bangkok beware of the Thai Gem Scam! go google it.

I only needed 'over the counter/non-prescription anti-malarials when I went to Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Rishikesh. I think you need the more serious/ expensive ones the further east you go.
Regarding hallucinations and Lariam, it depends on whether you lack a certain drug metabolizing enzyme called CYP450 2D6. About 7% of a caucasian population lack this enzyme i.e., they are poor metabolizers, and would be more likely to suffer hallucinations.

remember not to take anti-malaria drugs for longer than you should. I know someone who took malaria tablets for over a year while in the mid-east they damaged his liver, then when he stopped taking them while in hospital, you've guessed it he got malaria.
:mad:

In KL you could try staying along Jalan Bukit Bintang - relatively cheap but not upmarket if that is your thing.


Hotels that charge by the hour in jalan BB. Pimps on every corner.
DON'T stay at the confort inn. The place is filthy and crawling with insects.

Don't stay in BB. It's a great shopping area in the day with BB plaza, Times square and sun mai wong (did I spell that right?) but a sleezy dump at night.
If you are willing to try the food jalan aloh (next street) had a million street hawker stalls to try.
I suggest an RM80 hotel like the dragon inn at kota raya or if you want a backpacker place the one next to reggae bar on jalan HS lee.
They are all handy for the best pub in KL, The reggae bar.

Loads of good food around chinatown and some of the best backpacker night life. Also the best steamboat for miles outside Nando's at night.
Hawker stall number 5 in the chinatown food court does a great spicy noodle soup with chicken.
There is a great place for breakfast called the restaurant shukkran just over the road. They do a very nice roti channai.

From KLAI get the KLAI express to KL sentral. Take the LRT to station pasar seni (central market). Turn right on the main road out of the station and walk until you see a footbridge over the road. That's the start of jalan petalling (chinatown).
I can let you have telephone numbers for hotels and a couple of mates that can help you out.

I can't wait until may when I'm back there myself.
Just had an e-mail from a mate who works at the dragon inn to tell me he's booked my favorite room for me and my sweet lady when we arrive.

I would also be more than happy to offer advice on the (very few) dangers in KL and also some of the best places to see.

I love malaysia and just can't wait to see the place again but I have to wait until may 2007.