Can you buy anti-malarial drugs in VE w/o a prescription?

Question

My wife and I will be traveling to Venezuela in about a week and could not get a prescription from our Dr.'s. If they are avalable, do you know if they can be purchased in the Caracas Airport?

Answer 1

You can buy pretty much any drug in Venezuela without a prescription. The airport doesn't have a pharmacy, you'll have to wait to arrive to any city. But, aren't you supposed to start taking anti-malarials like two weeks beforehand?

Answer 2

Unless you're planning on travelling to the Amazon you won't need them. The rest of Venezuela is malaria free.

Answer 3

You need to start taking the preventative doses two weeks before exposure to do any good and since the Chloroquine is almost as hard on you as the disease, you may be as well  off not to take anything.

Edit:  It is my understanding that Malarone is effective for only the Plasmodium Falciparum strain of Malaria.  P. Falciparum makes up less than half of the malaria in Central and South America while the most prevelant strain is Plasmodium Vivax which is treated and prevented with Choloquine.  I don't know if you can buy either drug over the counter in Venzuela but Good luck.