Content
Mefloquine is a remedy indicated for the prevention of malaria, for people who intend to travel to areas where there is a greater risk of developing this disease. In addition, it can also be used to treat malaria caused by certain agents, when combined with another medication, called artesunate.
Mefloquine is available in pharmacies, and can only be purchased upon presentation of a prescription.
What is it for
Mefloquine is indicated for the prevention of malaria, for people wishing to travel to endemic areas and, when associated with artesunate, it can also be used to treat malaria caused by certain agents.
Is mefloquine indicated for the treatment of coronavirus infection?
The use of mefloquine to treat infection with the new coronavirus is not yet recommended because, although it has shown promising results in the treatment of COVID-19 [1], further studies are needed to prove its efficacy and safety.
Furthermore, in Russia, a possibly effective treatment regimen is still being tested, with mefloquine combined with other drugs, but still with no conclusive results.
Self-medication with mefloquine is advised against and dangerous, and may have serious health consequences.
How to use
This medicine should be taken orally, whole and with a glass of water, during meals. The dose should be determined by the doctor, based on the specific disease, severity and individual response to the drug. For treatment in children, the doctor must also adjust the dose to your weight.
For adults, when mefloquine is used to prevent malaria, it is recommended to start treatment about 2 to 3 weeks before travel. Therefore, one 250 mg tablet should be administered per week, always maintaining this regimen until 4 weeks after return.
If it is not possible to start preventive treatment so early, mefloquine can be started one week before the trip, however, it is important to know that serious adverse events usually occur until the third dose, with the possibility of appearing already during the trip . Alternatively, you can use mefloquine at the loading dose of 750 mg in a single dose and then start the regimen at 250 mg weekly.
Learn how to identify malaria symptoms and what to do.
How it works
Mefloquine acts on the asexual life cycle of the parasite, which occurs within blood cells, by forming complexes with the blood heme group, preventing their inactivation by the parasite. The complexes formed and the free heme group are toxic to the parasite.
Mefloquine has no activity against liver forms of the parasite, nor against its sexual forms.
Who should not use
Mefloquine is contraindicated for people with hypersensitivity to the components of the formula, for children under 5 kg or under 6 months, pregnant women and during breastfeeding.
It should also not be used in people with kidney and liver problems, a history of recent halofantrine therapy, a history of psychiatric illness such as depression, bipolar affective disorder or severe anxiety neurosis and epilepsy.
Possible side effects
Some of the side effects that may occur during treatment with mefloquine are dizziness, headache, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In addition, although it is more rare, insomnia, hallucinations, changes in coordination, changes in mood, agitation, aggressiveness and paranoid reactions can also occur.