Malaria pill - Meflquine - Easy to get at a pharmacy, Hospital or Clinic?.

[silver sea]

I live on Koh Samui. I am returning to UK sometime January. I am leaving it as late as possible to avoid the bad weather there. 

 

On 1st February, I am flying to Gabon, Africa for two weeks.

 

There is a high risk of catching malaria without medication. I have there fore been given the following advice:

 

“Tatayo, gave us the advice for malaria medication, via an female pro athlete form New York. She was taking: Mefloquine. A total of 4 pills. Each pill was 250 mg. She took it 1 week  before flying to Gabon, the day she flew, 1 week later another one and the last pill the following week. “

 

Does anyone know if Mefloquine is easy to get here in Thailand? Can I just go into a pharmacy and ask? Or do I need to see a doctor first to get a prescription, or do I need to visit a hospital?

 

Thank you for your advice.

  

Edited December 29, 2017 by silver sea
I had mispelt the word Mefloquine

[Sheryl]

Malaria drugs cannot be bought over the counter here.

 

You can get appropriate advice and medication in Bangkok here https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/

 

You can also get the yellow fever vaccination there, which is required for entry into Gabon

[Oxx]

One brand available, Mequin, locally manufactured.

 

Should be available at large pharmacies.  No prescription required.

 

If you have trouble finding it, contact the distributor, Atlantic Pharmaceutical Co Ltd.

 

It's really nasty stuff.  Wash it down with plenty of water or it will burn your mouth and throat quite horribly.  Expect nightmares and disturbed sleep.  Personally I wouldn't take it again as a prophylactic.  

[evadgib]

Seen today on the BBC:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-42443636/can-a-mobile-device-get-the-better-of-malaria

[Oxx]

On 29/12/2017 at 9:24 AM, Sheryl said:

Malaria drugs cannot be bought over the counter here.

 

Did you mean "can"?

 

Mefloquine and doxycycline are both available here without prescription.

[Sheryl]

Doxcyline of course is readil yavailabel OTC, but he asked only about mefloquine.

 

Although listed as category D in MIMS, to my understanding it is not sold OTC.  For that matter, it is not available in most hospitals -- especially since it is no longer used to treat malaria in Thailand (swtiched to  dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine in 2015).

 

AFAIK only likely source is travel medicine clinics in university hospitals.

 

From Mahoidol Travel clinci site:

 

" our government and our FDA have strict rules and regulations to control the use and distribution of antimalarial in Thailand. Since we face with multi-drugs (chloroquine, mefloquine) resistant malaria and this problem will be much worse if we could not control the use of antimalarial tablets. So antimalarial medication will be available in some university/public hospitals only....We do have many antimalarial medications including malarone, mefloquine and artesunate in our hospital. Our doctors could prescribe them for treatment and also for prevention of malaria in some cases. However they are not just simply for sale. We will consider in case by case basis. Not all travelers will need antimalarial tablets. Please refer to these articles for more information: Should I take antimalarial tablets in Thailand? and FAQ about malaria.  Generally we may prescribe antimalarial tablets for someone whotravel in high risk destination  (such as Africa, Papua New Guinea, Oceania)..."

https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/blog/all-about-malaria/where-can-i-buy-antimalarial-tablet-in-thailand.html