Antimalarial

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Antimalarial		Adult, Children

Antimalarial - Dosage and How to Use

How should Antimalarial be used?

Mefloquine (available at retail pharmacies)

Start two to three weeks before departure, continue to take the medication once a week during travel and continue once a week for 4 weeks after leaving endemic area.

Adult dose ( Weight >45kg )

One 250mg tablet once a week, on the same day of the week.
Check with your pharmacist or doctor for the correct dose if your weight is 45 kg or lower.

Paediatric dose (Applies to children age ≥6 months and weight >5 kg)

Body Weight	Dose
20-30kg	125mg (1/2 of 250mg tablet) once weekly
30-45kg	187.5mg (3/4 of 250mg tablet) once weekly
>45kg	250mg once weekly

Administration

Take with or after food and with at least one full glass of water.
The tablets may be crushed and suspended in a small amount of water, milk or other beverage for administration to people unable to swallow them whole.
If you vomit within 30 minutes of administration, repeat the dose.

Atovaquone with Proguanil (Malarone®)(requires a doctor's prescription)

Start one to two days before departure; continue to take the medication every day during the trip and for one week upon your return from endemic area.

Adult dose

One tablet once a day

Body weight	Dose
11-20kg	1 tablet (62.5 mg/25 mg) once a day
21-30kg	2 tablets (125 mg/50 mg) once a day
31-40kg	3 tablets (187.5 mg/75 mg) once a day
>40kg	4 tablets (250 mg/100 mg) once a day

Administration

Take the daily dose with or after food or a milky drink at the same time each day.
Tablets may be crushed and suspended in a small amount of water, milk, or another beverage for persons unable to swallow tablets.
If you vomit within 1 hour of administration, repeat the dose.

Doxycycline (requires a doctor's prescription)

Start one to two days before departure; continue to take every day during the trip and for four weeks upon your return from endemic area.

Adult dose

100mg once a day

Paediatric dose (Applies to children age> 8 years)

2.2mg/kg dose once a day, up to a maximum of 100mg per dose

Administration

Take with a full glass of water and avoid lying down for about 30 minutes after taking this medication.
Space doxycycline capsules one hour before or 2 hours after taking antacids and preparations containing calcium, iron and zinc.
If gastric irritation occurs, take this medication with food or milk.

Chloroquine (available at pharmacies)