To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Review Of Trials Confirms Toxicity Of Lariam URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/49FD2.htm Doctor's Guide November 28, 1997
LONDON, ENGLAND -- November 28, 1997 -- In this week's British Medical Journal, Major Ashley Croft, consultant in public health medicine, Headquarters Defence Secondary Care Agency at the Ministry of Defence in London, England and his colleague confirm the theoretical efficacy of mefloquine in preventing malaria infection (first available to European travelers in 1985, as Lariam). The study reviewed 10 trials comprising a total of 2,750 non-immune adult participants randomised to mefloquine or to a control. One placebo controlled trial examined malaria incidence directly and showed mefloquine to be highly effective in preventing malaria in an area of drug resistance. However, four placebo controlled trials showed that mefloquine was not well tolerated and withdrawals were consistently higher in mefloquine treatment arms than in placebo arms. Five field trials compared mefloquine with other chemoprophylaxis. Mefloquine was no worse tolerated than other chemoprophylaxis, although there was possibly a trend towards higher withdrawals in mefloquine arms. The authors' study also reveals levels of high toxicity and that study participants were more likely to withdraw from taking mefloquine than from taking placebo, which could be due to side effects of the prophylaxis, such as insomnia and fatigue. The researchers concluded that their review suggests that the effectiveness of mefloquine is limited by low adherence. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.