AFRO-NETS> Lariam (Mefloquine) and psychiatric disorders

[A Odutola <chpss_abo@yahoo.com>]

Lariam (Mefloquine) and psychiatric disorders
---------------------------------------------

Though evidence documenting the extent of use and problems associated 
with Lariam (Mefloquine) in the management of malaria in Africa is 
not widely available, this anti-malaria pill manufactured by Hoffman 
la Roche is claimed to have been used effectively for treating and 
preventing malaria by more than 25 million individuals worldwide over 
the past 17 years. 

Claims of strong association between Lariam and psychiatric disorders 
have been well reported in developed countries, 
(http://www.lariam-side-effects.com/page1.php). The UK Medicines 
Control Agency (MCA) estimates that one in every 10,000 to 20,000 pa-
tients taking Lariam may experience psychiatric side-effects. 

The story in the link below serves to remind general medical practi-
tioners and other primary care providers in Africa that Mefloquine 
has been strongly associated with psychiatric disorders such as anxi-
ety or persecution, depression, aggression, restlessness, hallucina-
tion, forgetfulness, panic and suicide.

Malaria pills 'made my daughter take her life' 
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=174089&in_page_id=1176


A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy and Strategic Studies (CHPSS)
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com

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