- Mefloquine should only be used following intravenous therapy in the case of life-threatening or serious malaria infections due to P. falciparum
- Do not administer halofantrine and ketoconazole with mefloquine or within 15 weeks of the last dose of mefloquine due to the risk of a potentially fatal prolongation of the QTc interval
- May cause psychiatric symptoms ranging from anxiety, paranoia, and depression to hallucinations and psychotic behavior
- Dizziness/Vertigo, or loss of balance has been reported in patients taking mefloquine. Caution advised while engaging in activities requiring alertness and fine motor coordination such as driving, piloting aircraft, operating machinery, and deep-sea diving
- Should not be prescribed for prophylaxis in patients with active depression, a recent hx of depression, hx of convulsions, generalized anxiety disorder, psychosis, or schizophrenia or other major psychiatric disorders
- Concomitant use of quinine or quinidine or chloroquine may produce electrocardiographic abnormalities or may increase the risk of convulsions
- Prescribe only for curative treatment in patients with epilepsy as therapy may increase the risk of convulsions
- Elimination of mefloquine may be prolonged, leading to higher plasma levels in patients with impaired liver function
- Perform periodic evaluations including liver function tests if administered for a prolonged period
- Since mefloquine does not eliminate exoerythrocytic parasites, follow up treatment with primaquine is recommended
Cautions: Use cautiously in
- Hepatic impairment
- Psychiatric disorder
- Hx of depression
- Seizure disorder
- Arrhythmias
Pregnancy Category:C
Breastfeeding: Mefloquine is excreted in breast milk in very small amounts, hence would not be expected to adversely affect the breastfed infant. This information is based upon LactMed database (available at http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT last accessed 2 February 2011). Manufacturer recommends discontinuation of breastfeeding, or postponing of treatment (taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother).
Pricing data from www.DrugStore.com in U.S.A.
- Lariam 250 MG TABS [Box] (ROCHE)
25 mg = $309.99
75 mg = $825.96 - Mefloquine HCl 250 MG TABS [Bottle] (ROXANE)
25 mg = $251.5
75 mg = $675.09
Warning: This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.
