The FDA finally acknowledged the severity of neurological and psychological side effects of the malaria prophylactic drug lariam (mefloquine). And a fascinating op-ed story and example about the drug popped here, appropriately titled Crazy Pills.
The truth is out! And I took them. I'm allergic to a cousin of doxycycline and started taking mefloquine before malarone (the newer drug with minimal side-effects) was available. And since then, MDs have recommended that I continue to take the drug that "worked for me in the past." It's true I haven't had any major psychotropic side effects and have no history of anxiety or depression, but man, I was happy to switch to malarone to lose the nightmares. Let's just say that watching 127 Hours before bed on Mefloquine was not a good idea.
To be fair, other country-hopping researchers have been warning me about taking it for years. Jason Kerwin warned about the drug two years ago. It took me a little longer to catch on and get off it, but I'm glad the drug is publicly shamed.
The truth is out! And I took them. I'm allergic to a cousin of doxycycline and started taking mefloquine before malarone (the newer drug with minimal side-effects) was available. And since then, MDs have recommended that I continue to take the drug that "worked for me in the past." It's true I haven't had any major psychotropic side effects and have no history of anxiety or depression, but man, I was happy to switch to malarone to lose the nightmares. Let's just say that watching 127 Hours before bed on Mefloquine was not a good idea.
To be fair, other country-hopping researchers have been warning me about taking it for years. Jason Kerwin warned about the drug two years ago. It took me a little longer to catch on and get off it, but I'm glad the drug is publicly shamed.
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