Re:Malaria 'Completely Stopped' by Microbe
by joshvm on Monday May 04, 2020 @03:08PM
(#23072002)
The prophylaxis medication is typically a broad spectrum antibiotic like doxycycline. There are other more expensive options which you take for a shorter period afterwards vs doxy which you have to take every day plus a month after.
However.. Some of the alternative drugs have very serious warnings that if you have any history of mental illness you probably shouldn't take them. Mefloquine is particularly prone to this I think and the symptoms sound like what the OP described (insomnia, vivid dreams, etc). You shouldn't have that with doxycycline, but it can make you photosensitive which isn't ideal in Africa.
Re:Malaria 'Completely Stopped' by Microbe
by KMag on Tuesday May 05, 2020 @05:01AM
(#23077978)
See my other post here about my friend getting paranoid on mefloquine, leading to my discovering that mefloqine is suspected in playing a role in several instances of peacekeepers attacking unarmed civilians. Search [mefloqine "freaky Friday"].
However.. Some of the alternative drugs have very serious warnings that if you have any history of mental illness you probably shouldn't take them. Mefloquine is particularly prone to this I think and the symptoms sound like what the OP described (insomnia, vivid dreams, etc). You shouldn't have that with doxycycline, but it can make you photosensitive which isn't ideal in Africa.