Mefloquine and Vivid Dreams: What Users Say

• a...
• September 23, 2015

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 spouses due to depression and other issues like anger and other issues directly associated with Lariam. I wrote an extensive report and passed it along to the 7th Group Surgeon, but did not even get a courtesy reply. Today I walk around with multiple issues: depression, other mental and physical..."

• Anonymous
• July 20, 2015

For Malaria Prevention "I was supposed 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."

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

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 travelers who also were taking Lariam. 19 also had no problems, and one did. She had the weird dreams, and so she stopped taking the Lariam 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."

• Bil...
• 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 ship's infirmary dozens of times within those 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."

• Sal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 19, 2020

For Malaria Prevention "I took this drug, mefloquine, for two years straight while 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."