bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I know CB, Indo, Mantas and others were talking about the malaria drugs and the bad side effects about a year ago, but have any of you used Malorone? Supposedly the side effects are minimal (nowhere near the horrible things that the others do), and I just discovered that we are gonna be heading deep into one of Malaysia's few high-risk Malaria areas (Taman Negara) for 4 or 5 days, and doing some night jungle watching (right when the mosquitos are at their most active!). So I am seriously considering some kind of drug for it. Anyone used it? Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Mate for that short a time just cover up and slop on the strongest RID you can find. Have some LARIUM just in case you get symptoms. One thing to consider also is that if your lady is taking the pill, alot of this medication will render it useless. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 no probs there mate. Yeah, short time I know, but it only takes one bite right? And as I said we are gonna be right in the one area that is actually on the Malaysia warning list AND going out at night into the jungle. Better safe than sorry was my thought I ordered some bloody strong deet stuff from Aus already, so will be covering up with that for sure. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 bring a fly swatter, you will be fine. In Luang Prabang, they had some tennis racket contraption which was electrical. Pretty cool. Buy one of those and just swing away. problem solved no drugs needed Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 yeah but that won't work while we are sitting in a hide in the jungle in the middle of the night... Dunno if it is necessary, but am certainly considering it. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 they'll have mozzie nets mate. You, depending on the pills, have to take them about a week before heading into said malaria area, and up to a month after (depending on pills). When I went to a MSF office in Siem Reap for my eyes the doc said he wouldnt ever take the pills, regardless of where he was going due to the extremely low risk of actually getting bitten by one of those mozzies. I thought he was kinda nuts but whatever, maybe he knows something we dont. Best info is over at Lonely planet forums mate. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 yep, I hear ya. This newer one Malarone only needs to be taken 2 days before and 7 days after though, and with very few side effects apparently, which got me interested. It's the first new malaria drug developed in something like 30 years. Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 in the lead-up to our trip i've been talking to three mates who have all spent extenive periods of time in PNG, indo and the philippies. one has had malaria, one got encephelitis and one got dengue fever (he thinks, the docs couldn't make an accurate diagnosis). i'm due to see a travel doctor in the next week to get a prfoessional opinion, and get some pills the general consesus is that taking pills reduces your chances of getting malaria if you get bitten. however, if you do contract malaria the only treatment is to give you big doses of the same meds you're on, so the effectiveness of the treatment may be reduced if you have built up an immunity. given that you're only going for 5 days or so, i would probably just munch the pills. you also have to eat them for 4 days before and after leaving an affected area i don't know about malarone, but all meds have some strong side effcts. all my mates swore off larium as they got major headf#cks, hallucinations and general paranoia. doxyclene is not as strong but less harmful to the body. there's a school of thought that taking any meds long term is worse for you than the disease, but dox mightt be ok for longer term doses. the malaria dose of dox is 100mg daily, and kids who have acne are prescribed 50mg of dox a day for years, so i wonder how bad it can be for you? i would dig around a bit on the net, then go see a travel doctor with specialist knowledge of travel in se asia. they might recomend that you take the pills, or just keep a stash on hand, ready to dose yourself up in case you get very very sick. of course, if you do get malaria you need to get to hospital if i were you i would take the pills for 2 weeks around your trip , and just cover up and spray the hell out of yourself. on a different note, when we were in morocco a few years ago, we met a french couple who had done remote trekking in malaysia (i can't remember where). having done several treks, in one particular place they didn't want some flashy guide, but just wanted a local to show them around. you know, a low-key "genuine experience" type of deal. they were pretty clued up and not city slickers, but it seems they didn't suss this guys credentials out enough. basically he saw the dollar signs and said he could take em into the jungle to check out some rare tiger and other fauna. turns out he was just an opportunistic indo fisherman with no idea. they got lost and spent 8 days in the jungle (they only had enough food and water for the planned 3 day trip). their "guide's" arsenal of equipment consistented of a single penknife they spent the last 5 days, hungry, tired and scared before somehow tumbling into a village and getting their way out of the jungle. of course once they realised how useless their guide was, they were terrified of running into any native fauna so um, might be an idea to ask around and get some feedback from other travellers before you commit to a guide Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 and there is some good info on the lonely planet forums, but also a lot of uniformed crap, posturing as fact. in the past few days i;e read several posts referring to anti-malarial drugs as "malarial vaccinations". you can't get a vaccine for malaria Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 yeah thanks spook. That would be a scary thing to have happen eh! We are not doing a trek or anything like that. Just staying somewhere pretty cushy but in the jungle, and doing some short activities from there including the night safari. I have checked the place out and it looks fine. I have read up a bit on the whole malaria thing and am aware of the things you pointed out. I have pretty much come to the same conclusions as you. I aksed specifically about malarone because it seems to be a newer but possibly quite effective malaria drug with fewer of those major side effects (reportedly no major ones), and just wondered if anyone here has used it. Anyway, let me know what the doc says in your case Link to post Share on other sites
spook 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 cool cool, will do when are you off? and can you post a link of the place you're staying at, sounds interesting and something worth checking out for sure Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Will be leaving Japan on April 18. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taman_Negara It's just a little appetizer before the MAldives mate Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 indeed that would be a celebrated day. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 What, cos I'm leaving? Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 mate, I have some really good DEET sunblock/anti-mozzie stuff. One is a weaker concentration and one is about the max you should use. Youre welcome to have some. Ewok and I used that all throughout our trip and didnt get bitten. Think I used doxyclene (sp?) as well. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 yeah Interesting you want to do that. The jungle is what we've been trying to leave for 750,000 years. For me, the jungle is just an etremely hot, humid, uncomfortable place. Give me National Geographic anyday. But I'm sure you'll have a blast. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Cheers CB Will talk with you more about it once we are up in Kansai Thursday, I'm a bit of a nature freak, so am pretty keen to get out and see some of that stuff. I'll take that any day over the cities Interesting point though. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 sure, add that to the list of things to discuss at our 反省会 Link to post Share on other sites
gerard 6 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 Sounds really good. I took Larium (not recreationally) in Indonesia a while ago but wouldn't take Malaria meds again unless I heard first hand that there was an outbreak at the time. Could bring it with you and decide on the ground (oh, but you have to start at least a few days in advance.) Anyway, I'm sure you guys are on top of it! Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 I usually freebase Larium myself... best way to fly!! Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Share Posted February 28, 2008 hey, you're outta here soon! As a supplement to whatever you choose to take, google up on olive leaf extract with regards to malaria. eg: http://curezone.com/foods/oliveleaf.html (scroll down to 'Tropical Illnesses') Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted February 28, 2008 Author Share Posted February 28, 2008 yep, thanks sunrise Link to post Share on other sites
Mantas 3 Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Originally Posted By: Bushpig . It's just a little appetizer before the MAldives mate Maldives,,,,,,you lucky sod. I cant help you with the malaria mate, it's been a long time since I've had to deal with that. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted February 29, 2008 Share Posted February 29, 2008 Maldives... drool. Wife has done it 3 times.. might be a "kidless" trip if I see something cheap in April / May! Where you headed mate? Mate did a boat trip that went from North to south and scored some sweet waves. Link to post Share on other sites
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