What are the side effects of larium the anti-malaria drug

Question

What are the side effects of larium the anti-malaria drug

Answer 1

It's actually Lariam;

This medication may cause stomach upset, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, hair loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, insomnia, strange dreams, or lightheadedness. These effects should subside as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms persist or become severe, contact your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Answer 2

At the doses given for acute malaria, adverse reactions to Lariam may not be distinguishable from symptoms of the disease itself. The overall incidence of adverse events reported during mefloquine prophylaxis is comparable to that reported for other chemoprophylactic regimens. However, the profile of mefloquine adverse events is predominantly characterised by neuropsychological adverse events. Because of the long half-life of mefloquine, adverse reactions to Lariam may occur or persist for more than several weeks after the last dose.

Patients should be advised to obtain medical advice before the next weekly dose of Lariam, if any concerning or neuropsychiatric symptoms develop. Discontinuation of Lariam should be considered, particularly if neuropsychiatric reactions occur. The need for alternative antimalarial therapy or prophylaxis can then be evaluated.

Common adverse reactions

Nausea, vomiting, dizziness or vertigo, loss of balance, headache, somnolence, sleep disorders (insomnia, abnormal dreams), loose stools or diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Uncommon adverse reactions

Psychiatric: Psychiatric reactions sometimes disabling and prolonged have been reported in association with Lariam. These include depression, mood changes, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, panic attacks, restlessness, forgetfulness, psychosis and paranoia, emotional instability, aggression and agitation. There have been rare reports of suicidal ideation and suicide but no relationship to drug administration has been established.

Neurological: Convulsions, sensory and motor neuropathies (including paraesthesia), tremor, tinnitus and vestibular disorders, including hearing impairment, abnormal co-ordination, ataxia and visual disturbances.

Cardiovascular system: Circulatory disturbances (hypotension, hypertension, flushing, syncope), chest pain, tachycardia or palpitations, bradycardia, irregular pulse, extrasystoles and other transient cardiac conduction alterations.

Skin: Rash, exanthema, erythema, urticaria, pruritus, oedema, hair loss, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Musculo-skeletal system: Muscle weakness and muscle cramps, myalgia, arthralgia.

Respiratory system: Dyspnoea. Very rare cases of pneumonitis of possible allergic aetiology have been reported.

General symptoms: Asthenia, malaise, fatigue, fever, sweating, chills, loss of appetite and dyspepsia.

Haematological: Leucopenia or leucocystosis, thrombocytopenia.

Laboratory abnormalities: Transient elevation of transaminases.

Very rare adverse reactions: AV-block and encephalopathy. There have also been rare reports of anaphylaxis in patients taking Lariam.

Studies in vitro and in vivo showed no haemolysis associated with G6PD deficiency.