Reactions to Mefloquine/Lariam

On 31 January 1997 Robin Hide wrote on ASAONET:

I've missed most of the recent discussion of malaria and larium but, with excuses to those who've already seen this material, offer the following references for those interested in sorting out whether and when to use Larium (cf Thompson,Claire 'Malaria pill stands accused' New Scientist, 27 April 1996, pp.14-15):

The papers are:

Weinke et al (1991) Neuropsychiatric side effects after the use of mefloquine Am.J.Trop.Med.Hyg. 45(1): 86-91
Bem,JL et al. (1992) Mefloquine prophylaxis: an overview of spontaneous reports of severe psychiatric reactions and convulsions. J.Trop.Med.Hyg. 95: 167-179
Croft,AMJ, and M.J.World (1996) Neuropsychiatric reactions with mefloquine chemoprophylaxis. The Lancet Feb.3, Vol. 347, 326.

These give a fairly consistent picture of the relative risks of severe neuropsychiatric reactions after taking Larium (a) for prophylaxis (extremely low), and (b) for treatment (relatively high). The dangers of malaria we all know.

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