Mefloquine and Nightmares: What Users Say

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2018

Mefloquine for Malaria "Had the worst nightmare of a snake (my absolutely worst fear) after taking Lariam. The nightmare was in vivid color, 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?"

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

For Malaria Prevention "I've taken many medications 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 paranoia, and panic attacks, hallucinations, it's like being in a true nightmare. I took several more medications just to recover from this mefloquine. Funny that the military forbids pilots and aircrew from taking it. Wouldn't want to lose an airplane now, would we (but what about the rest of us)?"

• gig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2020

Mefloquine for Malaria Prevention "In 1996, my husband and I took Lariam before traveling 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 12 days. When we returned home, I had nightmares, and he felt worse every day. I finally went to our doctor, and after I reminded her what I had taken every day, 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."

• For...
• 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."