What is Mefloquine? Uses, warnings & side effects

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and an information wallet card. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.

Do not take this medicine on an empty stomach. The best time is after your main meal of the day. Drink at least 8 ounces (1 cup) of water with each dose of medicine.

You may crush the tablet and mix it with a little water, milk, or other beverage to give the medicine to a young child.

Malaria prevention while traveling: You may need to start using this medicine at least 1 week before you start your trip. You may also need to keep using this medicine for 4 weeks after you get home. Ask your doctor about your schedule. Take this medicine on the same day of the week each time.

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after a dose is taken.

Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.

Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.

Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after a dose is taken.

Do not take this medicine on an empty stomach. The best time is after your main meal of the day. Drink at least 8 ounces (1 cup) of water with each dose of medicine.

Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.

You may crush the tablet and mix it with a little water, milk, or other beverage to give the medicine to a young child.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and an information wallet card. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.

Malaria prevention while traveling: You may need to start using this medicine at least 1 week before you start your trip. You may also need to keep using this medicine for 4 weeks after you get home. Ask your doctor about your schedule. Take this medicine on the same day of the week each time.

Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Oral routeAsk your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Do not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to mefloquine or similar medicines (such as quinine or quinidine), or if you have a history of seizures. Do not use this medicine to prevent malaria if you have an emotional or mental disorder, such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, or schizophrenia.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, epilepsy or seizures, or a history of depression or other psychiatric problems. Make sure your doctor knows if you have heart disease, heart block, or heart rhythm problems (such as prolonged QT interval).

Use birth control while you are taking this medicine and for 3 months after you stop. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause the following problems:Psychiatric problems (could be long-term, and may include anxiety, paranoid thoughts, depression, hallucinations, or thoughts of suicide)Nervous system problems (could be long-term or permanent, and may include dizziness or balance problems)

You could still get malaria even while using this medicine. If you get sick or have a fever, call your doctor.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

You will need to have your eyes and liver checked if you take this medicine for longer than 1 year.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

Unusual behavior or thoughts of hurting yourself

Do not take ketoconazole (Nizoral®) or halofantrine (Halfan®) with mefloquine or within 15 weeks after the last dose of this medicine, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are also using rifampin, other medicine for malaria (such as chloroquine, quinidine, quinine), medicine for seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, valproic acid), or medicine for heart rhythm problems (such as amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, sotalol).

If you need typhoid vaccine, you may need to finish it at least 3 days before you start taking mefloquine for malaria prevention.

You could still get malaria even while using this medicine. If you get sick or have a fever, call your doctor.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

You will need to have your eyes and liver checked if you take this medicine for longer than 1 year.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.