Mefloquine User Reviews & Ratings

• RolandD
• December 19, 2012

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "I took one of these and felt nearly suicidal within a few hours. The warning labels say if you have previously experienced "certain psychiatric conditions" then you should not take the medication. Well, those conditions include garden-variety depression which a pretty large percentage of the population has experienced. "

• a...
• September 23, 2015

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "As an A-Detachment medic i was forced to use this drug for over two years straight. I was also in charge of malaria chemoprophylaxis for my team. During the loading dose my guys started complaining of weird dreams and depression. Returning from South America at least 3 out of 11 of the team guys divorced their wives. By the time I raised the BS flag and started a new preventive treatment another 3 were on their way to divorce or had separated from spouse due to depression and other issues like anger and other issues directly associated with Lariam. I wrote an extensive report and pass it along to 7th Group Surgeon but did not even get a courtesy reply. Today I walk around with multiple issues depression, other mental and physical....."

• notAfan
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria "Had the worst nightmare of a snake (my absolutely worst fear) after taking Lariam. The nightmare was in vivid colour and the sounds were sharp, which made it worse. It has been over 8 years and I can still remember the sound. I had never had a nightmare like that before and haven't had one like that since. I had malaria tons of times as a child. Malaria itself comes nowhere close to having this type of nightmare! Should a drug with this kind of side effect really be on the market?"

• RNano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2018

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria "This drug should not be on the market and should not be distributed. There are better alternatives over this drug. The side effects of this drug are life altering. Myself and many others have experienced horrific side effects from this drug. If you have any family history or personal history of mental health conditions even minor depression - do not take this medication. There are also reports of suicidal idealisation."

• Steve...
• June 17, 2013

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "I took this for two years whilst in East Africa. Although many people told me it was not good, I found no side effects and never have suffered from Malaria. I had regular Liver function teats and no adverse symptoms were found."

• Grey
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

For Malaria Prevention "I've taken many medication over my 25 years in the military, this Larium is the biggest nightmare that ever happened to me. I wasn't the only one and I now warn anyone who needs to travel to stay away from this very dangerous drug. All of the side effects they list are not as "rare" as they say. Nightmares, extreme paranoid and panic attacks, hallucinations, its like being in a true nightmare. I took several more medications just to recover from this mefloquine. Funny that the military forbid pilots and aircrew from taking it, wouldn't want to lose an airplane now would we (but what about the rest of us)!"

• Jessica...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2017

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "My boyfriend and I we're prescribed Larium for a trip around Asia, both 25 fit & healthy. Both have taken various malaria medication for other trips and have never reacted always been fine, even on months worth of doxycycline. After the first tablet, I was experiencing very vivid dreams-which was fine and had no issues even though some quite frightening. However over the next two weeks I have had all the symptoms including extreme nauseousness, consistent diarrhea (sometimes 7 times in one day) Insomnia, panic and anxiety attacks, faint feeling and worst of all tingling sensations and slight numbness in hands and legs - very scary at times. A can of coke helped. Please don't take this medication and look for other alternatives not worth it"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 30, 2020

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "Was issued this drug for a deployment to Afghanistan. Took it for a year. Now I have a stutter in my speech, anxiety, depression, and a bit of paranoia. I've been told it's PTSD, but I spent the entire time over there stuck on the base doing paperwork. I didn't experience any traumatic stress at all."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2015

For Malaria Prevention "i was suppose to take it for six months but i did stop using it after two months as i suffered from strange dreams, paresthesia, numbness, fasciculations, sleep jerks and panic attacks. my symptoms did not disappear but they did improve with time. i think the reason was using other drugs while using mefloquine such as tramadol for migraine."

• Makpaz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2020

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "Lariam caused side effects of horrible visual hallucinations after only 1 use! Saw many green crocodile-like creatures hopping up and down from the floor, in my bedroom, ALL NIGHT, with saw sound in background as they go up and down popping their heads from floor. It was beyond a nightmare. Can't find words. Couldn't sleep. I prefer Malaria than this. NEVER AGAIN!"

• skind...
• September 20, 2016

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "took Larium on a trip to Indonesia and had huge vivid excruciating nightmares each night. i never usually remember my dreams, but this trip was disturbed each night by bolting out of my bed with my heart pounding and sweat all over my body. it was a truly horrible experience. next trip I took Malarone and all was good. I met a fellow traveler in another part of Indonesia on this 2nd trip and she had the same experience with Larium that I had. I did not get Malaria but the drug side effects were not worth it to me."

• tigo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2013

For Malaria Prevention "After taking mefloquine I suffered from "sleep starts". Although I stopped using it, a new symptoms a rised like anxiety, parasthesia, hyper-reflexia, muscle twitching. It has been two years now but still having these symptoms but to a lesser extent."

• Buffalo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2017

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria "Used this for 7 months in central africa during UN-mission. We were a contingent of 150 soldiers using it. Out of the 150 soldiers using it, only a few experienced some side effects. The good thing is that you only have to take it once a week."

• Mehd
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 12, 2017

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria "I have been using Lariam for many years now but I haven't had any issues. I heard that some friends couldn't use it as they had health issues after taking it so I guess it is different from a person to a person. What I like about it, apart from protecting against malaria, is that you take just one tablet a week (Malaria day I call it). Unless you protect yourself all the time from being bitten by Mosquitoes none of the medicines out there will have 100% efficiency. Good luck!"

• jonasl
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 13, 2017

For Malaria Prevention "Took them a week before a 10 day trip to Ghana and continued the 4 weeks after. Noticed a slight dizzy feeling but more like a mellow buzz as If I've had a gin & tonic the day after which seemed to come and stay a few days after the weekly dose. Did not notice anything else and the other side effects I have had with Malarone and Doxycyline (Fatigue, headaches and slight nausea) were not present at all. No strange dreams of vertigo as may others have described."

• Billy
• March 19, 2020

For Malaria Prevention "My best friend was a lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He was well liked and had no underlying mental issues that any of us knew of. He hung himself in the bottom of a naval vessel within 36 hours of taking it. He had gone to the ships infirmary dozens of times within that 36 hours. Some people have no side effects, some people have vivid nightmares, and other people experience a physical change in the brain stem causing them to sink into a deep, permanent depression. Taking it is like playing Russian roulette. I’d much rather just take doxycycline every day."

• gigi
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2020

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "In 1996 my husband and I took Lariam before travelling to Zimbabwe and Botswana. I noticed I was very jittery on the flight all night from London to Zimbabwe. Had difficulty sleeping and wondered why as we were in First Class and very comfortable. My husband felt shaky most of the time we were there which was 12days. When we returned home. I had nightmares and he felt felt worse every day. I finally went to our Doctor and after I reminded her what I had taken, everyday, I think for 14 days. She said. It is the Lariam!! After that I told everyone I knew, not to take it! Friends had told me originally, not to take it, but I figured it would not bother me, but it did. Thank you."

• santa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2018

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "I had zero problems with this medication. Used it for about 7 months, while on a year-long world trip...used for India, Africa, and the south Pacific. I picked this strictly for convenience--1x/week much easier than daily. I bumped into about 20 other travellers who also were taking Lariam. 19 also had no problems, and one did. She had the weird dreams and so she stopped taking the Larium right away. I'd tell a friend: Start taking this while you are still at home, and see if you're one of the few who have significant reactions to this. (If so, of course, discontinue and pick a different anti-malaria Rx) [Note: I had to fight with my insurance, pre-trip, to get enough pills to last for my extended travels. Finally got Blue Shield to cover them, once I pointed out the huge medical coverage costs to them if I ended up getting malaria due to not having sufficient pills.]"

• Allie...
• March 22, 2017

For Malaria Prevention "I used Mefloquine for Malaria prevention in India. While I was in India I didn't experience any side effects, however after I returned to Canada I developed flu like symptoms such as chills, fatigue, diarrhea and loss of appetite. Several days after developing the flu like symptoms I developed a skin rash on my face and neck. It has now been a week and I still have congestion, diarrhea and the rash, but the rest of the flu symptoms have gone away. I seen my doctor immediately, however my doctor hasn't told me to stop with the medication and we're currently doing blood tests to monitor the side effects."

• Force...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 16, 2023

For Malaria Prevention "The first time I took this drug was also the first time I had my first bout with sleep paralysis. That was in Somalia, 1993. The symptoms never went away. I used to hang out of aircraft as part of my job. After taking this dreadful pill, I have since been deathly afraid of heights and have problems with balance. The nightmares are horrific. For me, they never stopped. I sleep three to four hours a night and have since taking it weekly in 1993. I believe this drug ruined my life."

• SallyD
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 19, 2020

For Malaria Prevention "I took this drug mefloquine for two years straight whilst stationed in Angola. Never experienced any of the side effects or had any problems thereafter. However, many others stationed with me had to stop taking the drug due to bad dreams, insomnia and depression problems."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2016

For Malaria "I was prescribed to take 6 pills at once for treatment of malaria. Can't sleep, I keep having hallucinations when I close my eyes and can't focus when my eyes are open."

• Marie...
• October 21, 2015

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria "Very bad. It is one pill a day. Got anxiety, skin rash and was not hungry. Would not recommend"

• Sheryll...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 25, 2019

For Malaria Prevention "READ the side effects. Mefloquine caused permanent brain injury for me. The side effects ruined my life. I posted my real name for a reason."

• Tsibi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2016

Lariam (mefloquine) for Malaria Prevention "Used Lariam in Zimbabwe for periods up to six weeks in country. Have taken this medication on 15 trips to Zimbabwe I have not experienced any side effects."