Malarone and Vivid Dreams: What Users Say

• Bud...
• September 1, 2018

For Malaria Prevention "My 8-yr-old son and I took Malarone for 30 days, stopping 2 weeks ago. We both had loose stools and got mouth ulcers while on the medicine. I would consider those side effects mild. However, my son started having unwanted, intrusive dark thoughts while on the medicine, and he started obsessing over them, feeling very guilty and confessing them to me. He had never acted in this way prior to taking the medicine. He is also having some weird dreams, which make him feel bad. I have to wait 3 weeks to get an appointment with a child psychiatrist in our area but did see a pediatrician today who said his OCD-thought-like difficulties were likely due to the antimalarial meds. I had not realized the association. I do hope the thoughts go away soon as they are all-consuming to him and extremely worrying to both him and me. I feel helpless and don't know what to do."

• Sie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2015

For Malaria Prevention "I traveled to Sierra Leone with my two-and-a-half-year-old son in 2005. He and I took Malarone. He broke out in hives that required medical attention, and I experienced severe dizziness and bad dreams. I would NOT recommend this drug to anyone. We were immediately taken off Malarone and put on Daraprim, which worked fine as we stayed there for six weeks, and we never got sick."

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2019

For Malaria Prevention "Currently in Kenya (Jan 2019), south of Mombasa. Here for a 2-week holiday. Wife and I both took Malarone for a week with no side effects. 2nd week, we were both ill and stopped using it. Interestingly, we have not seen one mosquito since we've been here (coast), and many other hotel guests were complaining of the same Malarone symptoms and also stopped taking it too. We have been off it for 2 days and already feel loads better. Neither of us will take it in the future. Side effects as follows: nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, lethargy, insomnia, red blotches on skin, strange dreams when we did manage to sleep. How can you enjoy your holiday when you feel like this?"

• Tya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 12, 2021

For Malaria Prevention "2nd round of preventive Malarone treatment for me. 1st time into West Africa 2013/14, no significant major health challenges/concerns with taking 1 x tab/day pre/in-country/post trip. This time now, more ‘ringing in my ears,’ some headaches, diarrhea (but could also be the food?), some weird dreams. Vaccines, et al, are a personal journey/choice. Risks are noted for a reason. Cancel the trip? No, I don’t think so. But be “smart.” Be aware of the potential challenges. You can always start the treatment well before your trip, where you are closer to medical professionals/medical help, and see how you fare. God bless."