Malaria prevention: Malarone, doxycycline and Lariam
There is no malaria vaccine for travellers, so prevention comes down to bite avoidance plus the right tablets for your destination, budget and medical history.
- Price
- From £25
- Course
- 3 steps
- Protection
- For the duration of the course only
About Malaria prevention
Malaria is caught from night-biting mosquitoes and can become life threatening within a day of the first fever. Most UK deaths involve travellers who took no tablets at all.
Malarone (atovaquone and proguanil) is the easiest to take: start two days before, once daily, and stop a week after you return. It suits short trips and has few side effects, but it is the priciest option.
Doxycycline is far cheaper for longer trips, taken once daily from two days before until four weeks after. It can cause sun sensitivity and is not for pregnancy or young children. Lariam (mefloquine) is weekly rather than daily, which suits extended stays, but is unsuitable for anyone with a history of depression, anxiety or seizures.
Our pharmacist will match the tablet to your itinerary, your other medicines and how long you are away.
Price
From £25
Price depends on the tablet and length of trip.
Protection lasts
For the duration of the course only
Book nowNormal and accelerated schedules
- Malarone
Daily, starting 2 days before travel and continuing 7 days after you leave the risk area.
- Doxycycline
Daily, starting 2 days before travel and continuing 4 weeks after.
- Lariam (mefloquine)
Weekly, starting 2 to 3 weeks before travel and continuing 4 weeks after.
Who needs it
- Travellers to malaria risk areas in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, South America and Oceania
- People visiting friends and relatives, who often skip tablets and make up most UK cases
- Pregnant travellers and young children, who need advice based on their health and travel plans
- Finish the course after you return, stopping early is a common reason prevention fails.
- Use repellent, cover up after dusk and sleep under a treated net.
- Any fever within a year of travel needs urgent medical assessment; mention where you have been.
Malaria prevention questions
It depends on your destination, trip length, medical history and budget. Malarone suits short trips, doxycycline longer ones, and Lariam is weekly but has more restrictions.
Our pharmacist assesses you in the appointment and supplies the appropriate antimalarial where suitable.
Need to be seen today?
Book online in about a minute and you can often be seen the same day. Prefer to talk it through? Call us or pop in, Monday to Saturday.