Question Vaccines for Indonesia

[also_anon_dc]

Malarone should not be taken if you are a scuba diver. Its side effects are similar to DCS. It is also normally the treatment of last resort in many places in the Pacific and possibly Asia. I have seen a diver have severe mental issues caused by it and another friend suffered the DCS-like side effects.

Please do tell us what your medical credentials are? Or should everyone just blindly accept your medical advice based on your observations of two people?

 

[rmorgan]

Malarone should not be taken if you are a scuba diver. Its side effects are similar to DCS. It is also normally the treatment of last resort in many places in the Pacific and possibly Asia. I have seen a diver have severe mental issues caused by it and another friend suffered the DCS-like side effects.

Respectfully, this is precisely inconsistent with medical advice. As the attached article concludes, “Of the available literature, atovaquone/proguanil [Malarone] and doxycycline are most likely the safest agents and should be preferred” for divers, with Malarone first because doxycycline is more reactive to sun exposure. As this reference succinctly puts it, “Larium is the anti-malarial to avoid whilst diving.”

 

[DirtFish]

Here is an easy version of the same info:

Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone) and doxycycline are considered the safest antimalarial medications for scuba divers:

• Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone)

This combination of drugs is well tolerated and has a low risk of side effects. It can be started 1–2 days before travel and taken daily while in the malaria-endemic area, and for 7 days after leaving. It's a good choice for shorter trips because it only needs to be taken for 7 days after travel.

• Doxycycline

This medication can be an alternative to atovaquone-proguanil if it provides adequate protection in the area you're traveling to. However, you should be careful to avoid sun exposure while taking doxycycline.

Other antimalarial medications include:

• Mefloquine (Lariam)

This medication has a high rate of neurologic side effects, including dizziness, difficulty sleeping, and vivid dreams. It may also cause side effects that mimic decompression illness.

• Chloroquine

This medication should be avoided because it appears unsafe in the hyperbaric environment and can induce seizures.

• Safety of antimalarial medications for use while scuba diving in ...

Oct 11, 2016 — Furthermore, because atovaquone-proguanil and doxycycline are both currently used by the U.S. Navy aviation community ...

We usually suggest divers take Malarone. You will have to check that this works in the area you are planning to travel to. We also...

This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.

 

[Centrals]

Mosquito is my only concern. So I will pack a small bottle of eucalyptus insect repellent for my trip to Pulau Weh in Sumatra next June.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Sorry, mixed up my drugs and have edited my post, Larium is the bad one.