Directions for use:

• The adult dosage is 250 mg (one tablet) once a week.
• Take the first dose of mefloquine 2 to 3 weeks before arrival in the malaria-risk area.
• Take mefloquine once a week, on the same day of the week, while in the malaria-risk area.
• Take mefloquine once a week for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria-risk area.
• Mefloquine should be taken on a full stomach, for example, after dinner.

Mefloquine side effects
Most travelers who take mefloquine have few, if any, side effects. The most commonly reported minor side effects include

• nausea, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, and vivid dreams.
• Mefloquine has very rarely been reported to cause serious side effects, such as :
  • seizures
  • hallucinations
  • and severe anxiety.

Minor side effects usually do not require stopping the drug. Travellers who have serious side effects should seek medical advice.

Do NOT take mefloquine if you have

• Ever had an allergic reaction to mefloquine;
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorders;
• A history of severe mental illness or other psychiatric disorders;
• Been diagnosed or treated for an irregular heartbeat.
• You are in the first 3 months of pregnancy or you are planning to become pregnant within 3 months of stopping mefloquine.
• You will be undertaking activities which require precision (for example piloting a plane, scuba diving etc.) as mefloquine can cause dizziness.