Your mosquito patches and net are packed, you’ve loaded up on insect repellent and your suitcase is chock full of long-sleeved shirts and track pants. These are definitely some of the measures that you should be taking before travelling to any country or region that carries a risk of transmission of malaria.

After all, all it takes is a single bite from an infected mosquito for you to be hit by the high fever, chills and excruciating muscle aches that are characteristic of the disease.

However, one can never be too safe when it comes to malaria. There is a good chance that you may be bitten even after taking all the aforementioned precautions – this is where anti-malarial medication comes in.

While mosquito nets and sprays help you to avoid getting bitten, anti-malarial medication, usually in the form of tablets, help in stopping the infection from establishing and its symptoms from developing.

These tablets significantly reduce your chances of acquiring the infection and this may be especially crucial in areas that have swarms of infected mosquitos. So if you’re heading to regions where the risk of malaria is present such as Africa or South America, remember to speak with your travel health provider about which type of anti-malarial medication to stock up on.

Clari Health Singapore has put together a go-to guide for you so that you can be in the know about which malaria tablets are best suited for you.

Which malaria tablets are most commonly used?

Singhealth, the largest provider of healthcare in Singapore, recommends four main types of malaria tablets:

Atovaquone/Proguanil

Common brand name: Malarone

How and where to get it: Can be prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner and collected from pharmacies

Mefloquine

Common brand name: Lariam

How and where to get it: Can be purchased from retail pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription

Doxycycline

Common brand names: Vibramycin

How and where to get it: Can be prescribed by a licensed medical practitioner and collected from pharmacies

Chloroquine

Common brand names: Avloclor, Resochin or Aralen

How and where to get it: Can be purchased from retail pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription

Which tablets can be taken by children?

Singhealth has provided the following recommendations in terms of which of these tablets can be safely taken by children:

Atovaquone/Proguanil

Suitable for children? : Yes, there is a paediatric version of the tablet and its dosage can be adjusted according to child’s body mass.

MefloquineMefloquine

Suitable for children? : Yes, dosage can be adjusted according to child’s body mass.

Doxycycline

Suitable for children? : No, doxycycline can cause discolouration of teeth and damage of tooth enamel in children so it can only be prescribed to children above the age of 12.

Chloroquine

Suitable for children? : Yes, dosage can be adjusted according to child’s body mass.

Who shouldn’t take these tablets?

Singhealth has determined that the following antimalarial medication may have contraindications:

Atovaquone/Proguanil

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you are: pregnant or breastfeeding

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you have: severe kidney problems

Mefloquine

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you are: epileptic or depressed

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you have: seizures, mental health problems, severe heart or liver problems or close relatives who have the aforementioned problems

Doxycycline

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you are: a child below the age of 12, pregnant or breastfeeding or sensitive to tetracycline antiobiotics

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you have: liver problems

Chloroquine

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you are: an alcoholic or anaemic from Pyruvate Kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiencies

You shouldn’t take these tablets if you have: seizures, psoriasis, liver problems or porphyria

Which regions are these tablets effective in?

Atovaquone/Proguanil

Regions: All parts of the world

Mefloquine

Regions: All parts of the world, but to be used with caution in South East Asia

Doxycycline

Regions: All parts of the world

Chloroquine

Regions: Central America and the Caribbean

When, for how long and how often should you take the tablets?

According to Singhealth, the dosage and frequency that you should take each of the antimalarial pills varies:

Atovaquone/Proguanil

When? : 1 or 2 days before you travel

How often? : One tablet daily

For how long? : Every day that you’re in an area with a risk of infection and for a week after you’re back from your trip

Mefloquine

When? : 3 weeks before you travel

How often? : One tablet weekly

For how long? : Every week that you’re in an area with a risk of infection and for a month after you’re back from your trip

Doxycycline

When? : 2 days before you travel

How often? : One tablet daily

For how long? : Every day that you’re in an area with a risk of infection and for a month after you’re back from your trip

Chloroquine

When? : 1 week before you travel

How often? : One tablet weekly

For how long? : Every week that you’re in an area with a risk of infection and for a month after you’re back from your trip

What are the side effects of these tablets?

These are some of the potential side effects of the tablets:

Atovaquone/Proguanil

Possible side effects: skin rash, mouth ulcers or an upset stomach

Mefloquine

Possible side effects: dizziness, headaches, sleep disturbances (insomnia, vivid dreams) or psychiatric reactions (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, hallucinations)

Doxycycline

Possible side effects: heartburn, upset stomach, sunburn because of increased light sensitivity or thrush

Chloroquine

Possible side effects: nausea, headache, temporary hair loss, muscle weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea or stomach cramps

The information above should give you a clearer picture on how malaria tablets may be best used and which types may be suitable for you. However, make sure to consult a travel health professional before you go ahead and take any anti-malarial medication!

Don’t forget also to take measures to avoid bites, such as spraying your clothing with insecticides such as permethrin and wearing loose clothing with maximum coverage.

Make an appointment with us today to see which malaria tablet is suitable for you – you can stock up on these before you head off on your trip in order to keep yourself and your loved ones protected from malaria.