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|Mefloquine

Mefloquine

Mefloquine is used for:

Treating or preventing malaria.

Mefloquine is an antimalarial agent. How it works to kill sensitive malaria parasites is not known.

Do NOT use Mefloquine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Mefloquine or similar medicines (eg, quinine, quinidine)
• you have a mental illness (eg, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis) or you have a history of depression or seizures
• you are taking halofantrine

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Mefloquine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Mefloquine . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines (especially quinine or quinidine), foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of mental disorders, heart disease, epilepsy, diabetes, or liver problems

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Mefloquine . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Beta-blockers (eg, atenolol), dofetilide, halofantrine, or ziprasidone because heart problems, including irregular heartbeat, may occur
• Ethanol because severe psychiatric disturbances may result
• Oral live vaccines because the effectiveness of the vaccine may be decreased. Oral live vaccines should be completed at least 3 days before the first dose of Mefloquine .

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Mefloquine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Mefloquine :

Use Mefloquine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Mefloquine should not be taken on an empty stomach. It should be taken with food and at least a full glass of water (8 oz/240 mL).
• If the tablets cannot be swallowed whole, they may be crushed and suspended in a small amount of water, sugar water, milk, or other beverage. Be sure to drink all the liquid so that you receive the entire dose.
• Mefloquine comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Mefloquine refilled.
• Patients taking Mefloquine to prevent malaria should begin 1 week prior to traveling and continue for 4 weeks after leaving the area where malaria can be contracted. If you are unable to complete the course of treatment, contact your doctor.
• Weekly doses of Mefloquine should be taken regularly, on the same day of each week, preferably after the main meal.
• Continue using Mefloquine for the full course of treatment. Do not skip any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Mefloquine and you are taking it to prevent infection, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Mefloquine .

Important safety information:

• Mefloquine may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or a loss of balance. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Mefloquine . Using Mefloquine alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Carry an identification card at all times that says you taking Mefloquine .
• Malaria can be life-threatening. Mefloquine is helps to prevent or treat the infection.
• No medicine is completely effective against malaria. While you are in a hazardous area, use bed nets and insect repellents and wear protective clothing (long sleeves and long pants) to decrease your risk. If you are out in the bush, you may want to pre-wash your clothes with permethrin, a mosquito repellent that may be effective for weeks after use. Ask your doctor for other ways to protect yourself.
• Contact your health care provider at once if you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms (eg, chills, muscle pains, headache) after returning from an area where malaria exists.
• Mefloquine may cause early vomiting in children. If a significant amount of Mefloquine is lost due to vomiting, a second full dose of it should be given to patients who vomit less than 30 minutes after receiving it. If vomiting occurs 30 minutes to 1 hour after a dose, an additional half-dose should be given. Monitor the patient closely if vomiting occurs again.
• Stop using Mefloquine and contact your health care provider if anxiety, depression, restlessness, or confusion occur. Mefloquine should not be used for retreatment if a full course of Mefloquine does not lead to improvement within 48 to 72 hours. Your doctor may need to prescribe an alternative medicine. If you do not have access to a health care provider or to another medicine and you have to stop taking this one, leave the malaria area. Leaving the area may not protect you from contracting malaria and you may still need to take another medicine to prevent the disease.
• Use effective contraception (birth control) (eg, diaphragms) while taking Mefloquine and for 3 months after you have taken it.
• If you are taking other medicines, it may be necessary to start treatment with Mefloquine 2 to 3 weeks before traveling in order to make sure the other medicines and Mefloquine are well tolerated.
• Certain vaccines may not work if taken while using Mefloquine . Vaccinations with live bacteria should be completed at least 3 days before taking the first dose of Mefloquine .
• Diabetes patients - Mefloquine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking quinidine, chloroquine, medicine for seizures (eg, carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproic acid), or blood thinners (eg, warfarin).
• LAB TESTS, including liver function tests and eye exams, may be performed to monitor your progress or check for side effects if you are taking Mefloquine for a long period of time. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Mefloquine with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially heart problems.
• Mefloquine is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 6 months of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Avoid becoming pregnant while using Mefloquine . If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Mefloquine during pregnancy. Mefloquine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Mefloquine .

Possible side effects of Mefloquine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; fainting; fever; hair loss; headache; insomnia; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; loss of balance; muscle aches; nausea; ringing in the ears; stomach pain or upset; strange dreams; tiredness; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, muscle pain, headache); loss of coordination; muscle pain; numbness and tingling of hands or feet; paranoia; seizures; suicidal thoughts or behaviors; unexplained anxiety, mood changes, depression, hallucinations, restlessness, or confusion; vision changes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include diarrhea; vomiting.

Store Mefloquine at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Mefloquine , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Mefloquine is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Mefloquine . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.