A Clinical Study of Adverse Reactions after Taking Mefloquine

Lee, Ho Jun; Park, Tae Soo; Kim, Seung Soo; Kim, Kyung Eun; Bang, Ji Hwan; Shin, Hyoung Shik; Kim, Jae Yoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mefloquine is widely used for a chemoprophylactic agent against malaria, however, there is a tendency to avoid mefloquine as preventive medicine due to its side effects. Therefore, we carried out this study to provide travelers with safety information regarding consumption of mefloquine through a prospective research for adverse reactions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study had been estimated for the relationship between administration of mefloquine and symptoms of which person had been prescribed of mefloquine at the International Clinic of National Medical Center from May 1, 2006 to October 30, 2006 by phone interviews every three days prior to departure and 4 times every week following a return from the travel.
RESULTS
Adverse reactions had been reported in 73 (18.6%) persons among 393 travelers who had taken mefloquine with the figure of 38 (52.1%) males, 35 (47.9%) females and 98 (24.9%) occurrences of adverse reactions. The most common adverse reaction was febrile sensation. Most (96%) of adverse reactions had been detected in 3 weeks after being taken mefloquine and there was no difference between sex and age. Most of travelers who had complained the symptoms got better spontaneously or through the symptomatic treatment. Some travelers had taken other medicines and had gotten several vaccinations concurrently. Only 3 cases that took medicine for hypothyroidism were related to adverse reactions of mefloquine (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
There were adverse reactions which were reported in 18.6% of travelers after taking mefloquine and malraria hasn't occurred. So mefloquine is considered as a primary preventive agent against malaria.