Description

• This is a pharmacy medicine that can be supplied without a prescription

• Proguanil may be used as an alternative to chloroquine in malarious areas where there is no resistance to chloroquine

Directions

• Adults - 200mg of proguanil should be taken daily
• Children 9 - 14 years - one and a half tablets each day
• Children 5 - 8 years - one tablet daily
• Children 1 - 4 years - half tablet daily
• Take with water, after food at the same time each day
• You should start taking proguanil one week before entering the malarious area, continue during your stay and continue for 4 weeks after leaving
• Note - for two weeks away 98 tablets(7 strips) will be required for one person

Caution

• No medication can be guaranteed to protect you against malaria in every case
• Any traveller becoming ill either when visiting a malarious region or even up to a year after returning home should suspect malaria and seek medical advice as soon as possible
• Remember that no antimalarial drugs are 100% effective so as a first line of defence against the disease it is advisable to protect against biting mosquitos by -
• Wearing light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, when out of doors after sunset
• Using insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of the body not covered by clothing
• Sleeping in a properly screened room or under a mosquito net
• Spraying to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening

Side effects

• Mild gastrointestinal upset may occur
• The drug may cause mouth ulcers but this is more common when it is taken in combination with chloroquine

Who should double check with their GP?

• The dose of the drug may need to be reduced in severe renal failure. Proguanil may affect the dose of anticoagulants needed for those on long term treatment
• Proguanil is safe in pregnancy but a folate supplement should be used
• As with all medicines, undesirable events can sometimes be experienced with Paludrine
• Mild temporary stomach upsets may occur occasionally
• Mouth ulcers and inflammation of the mouth occur rarely
• Isolated cases of skin reactions and temporary hair loss have been reported in association with the use of Paludrine
• Do not be alarmed by this list of possible events. Most people take Paludrine without any problems
• If you have kidney problems, you may have some changes in your blood if you take Paludrine

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