Lake Saint Lucia Travel Forum

Malaria Tablets
Posted: Mon September 20, 2004 11:52 AM UTC

Hi there,
I am planning to visit Lake St Lucia for a couple of days in November, I am travelling from Britain and went to my doctor for some anti malaria tablets and she recommended "larium". I have heard about the terrible side effects of this stuff. So is there anything I can buy in Durban and take a couple of days before I set off to Lake St Lucia?
Cheers, Russ.

Russs41

5 replies

[Reply]

Re: Malaria Tablets
Posted: Mon September 20, 2004 12:07 PM UTC

Hi -

you shoild find this page from the US government's CDC useful:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/safrica.htm

You might find Malarone a better bet, although it is expensive and might not be available in S. Africa yet (it's available in the UK with a prescription).

Cheers,

Jeremy

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jrs1234

[Reply]

Re: Malaria Tablets
Posted: Mon September 20, 2004 12:14 PM UTC

The village of St Lucia and the south end of the lake are relatively low-risk malaria areas. Couple-of-days-before meds are on prescription only. Suggest that you visit a travel clinic in Durban if you really want the right meds.
http://www.travelclinic.co.za

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Gerald_D

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Re: Malaria Tablets
Posted: Mon September 20, 2004 12:31 PM UTC

Malanore (Malarone), containing atovaquone-proguanil, is available here and is the most expensive preventative medicine. Around R400 (GBPound 35) for 12 tablets.

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Gerald_D

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Re: Re: Malaria Tablets
Posted: Mon September 20, 2004 01:01 PM UTC

Russ

If you cannot get Malarone or too expensive, you can always try a Larium/Lariam weeks before you need it. You can see yourself what the side effects are on you even before you go on holiday or to risk-zones.

It didn't have any side effects on me, so I use it regulary. It all depends on the person.

Peter

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