Alternatives to Malarone

[757_Driver]

Howdy

I spend alot of time (regular short trips) in west Africa (Ghana, Sierra Leone) and East Africa (Djibouti).

I appear to be getting more and more intolerant to malarone, I'm going to talk this over with my AME of course and get some professional advice, but i'd also like a bit of info before meeting my doc.

Does anyone know of any acceptable alaternatives to malarone that are ok for flight crew (i know some anti-malairals are deemed unnaceptable)? I beleive there is an antibiotic that one can take?

[Bob the Doc]

The antibiotic you mention is probably doxycycline. Can't remember whether it is considered to be a viable alternative to Malarone. Other alternatives are Chloroquine and Proguanil (not recommended for subsaharan africa from memory) and Lariam (mefloquine - definitely not recommended for pilots as 10% get some seriously wierd dreams and can get conscious psychiatric effects as well).

Hope that helps

Bob

[757_Driver]

thanks. I get seriously weird dreams on Malarone!

I'll do a bit of research into those and have a chat with my doc.

[gingernut]

It's a matter of balancing risk.

Your destinations are risky places, but there are alternatives to Malarone, (which is generally well tolerated.)

I'd suggest seeking expert advice, (a travel clinic/school of Tropical Medicine-remember to tell them you sit in a cockpit playing with knobs)-also, if you cut down the number of bites, you'll cut down the risk.

And one final reminder- if you get ill within 3 months of returning from a risk area, remember to tell the doc, they don't always ask.:)

[Pace]

757 driver

Just a little hint with the warning that i am not medically qualified to give an opinion :) but try eating avocado! the buggers wont go near you :) and thats not a joke.

Pace

[Bob the Doc]

Pace makes a good point that prevention is better than (although not a substitute for) prophylaxis. Anything that stops the buggers from biting in the first place is always a good plan. Not heard of avocado before but will be trying it next time I am heading somewhere like that. Good excuse to eat one of my favourite foods without feeling guilty!

[Pace]

Not heard of avocado before but will be trying it next time I am heading somewhere like that. Good excuse to eat one of my favourite foods without feeling guilty!

Do try it as it works and it is a well known deterrant. I ferried a business jet to south Africa landing in a number of places enroute and they didnt come near. Something in the avocado puts them off biting the skin. What??? but try it :)

Pace

[gingernut]

I think we have to exercise some degree of responsibility here chaps:}

Avocado, B vitamins, Garlic capsules, snake oil, all has it's place, but this guy is constantly entering a place where the biggest killer is a mossie.:)

(and poverty)

[Pace]

I think we have to exercise some degree of responsibility here chaps

Avocado, B vitamins, Garlic capsules, snake oil, all has it's place, but this guy is constantly entering a place where the biggest killer is a mossie

Gingernut

Was not suggesting avocado as an alternative to protective medication but as an addition to stop mossie bites which in themselves are not pleasant.

I am told that something in the avocado permiates through the skin and that the mossies are not partial to avocado with or without french dressing :)

Pace

[john1million]

I am in a similar situation in that I am looking to take a job on rotation in Angola that will put me permanently on Malarone. I am struggling to find anything on flying and taking this drug and I am currently in the process of getting my NPPL(M). Can I take from your original (if a little old) post, 757, that malarone is deemed to be ok for pilots?

:confused:

[Miguel Martins]

Always heard that Gin and Tonic is rather good protecting you from those crazy bugs.... I like to think that it works. :}

[john1million]

I did try the GnT some years ago on a six month stint in Nigeria and I didn't get malaria, what more proof would anyone need? :p

Sadly this time it looks like I may be getting tested to make sure I'm taking medication :eek:

[gingernut]

I did try the GnT some years ago on a six month stint in Nigeria and I didn't get malaria, what more proof would anyone need?:D

Funny that, just survived 6 months without a battery in me'smoke alarm.

A matter of balance chaps, malaria kills about four returning travellers to the UK each year. Balance that against poisoning thousands, but who have minor side effects.

(Unless you're a pilot taking malarone:))