Malarone is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria. It is effective in the prevention of most strains of malaria and often used in conjunction with other malaria medications in treating the disease. There are a number of adverse side effects that can be experienced while taking Malarone for malaria, but the severity of these side effects is significantly less than what can be experienced while using other medications.
The most important benefit of taking Malarone for malaria is that it is an effective prevention against most strains of the disease. This serious disease is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year worldwide. People traveling to or residing in areas known to carry malaria are advised to take malarial prophylaxis. In the case of an active malaria infection, Malarone can also be used as a treatment.
There are a number of other benefits to taking Malarone for malaria as well. Malarone is shown to be a more effective preventative drug than other types of malaria medication in most regions. As it is a relatively new drug, most strains of malaria have not developed a resistance to Malarone. Malarone is comprised of both atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, which attacks the malaria parasite in different ways. Malarone can also be used by children who weigh more than 22 pounds (about 10 kg) as both a preventative drug and a treatment.
There are also fewer side effects reported with the use of Malarone. Though psychotic effects can be experienced when taking Malarone for malaria, they are significantly less severe than those experienced by people taking mefloquine, also known under the brand name Lariam. It is also safe to get sun exposure while taking Malarone, whereas the malaria prophylaxis Doxycycline can cause severe reactions during sun exposure.
Though there are many benefits to taking Malarone for malaria, there are some reasons to avoid it as well. There are some strains of Plasmodium falciparum, one of the parasite species that causes malaria, that have developed a resistance to the drug. This is the most deadly form of malaria, so it is important to take a medication known to be effective against it when traveling to regions where this strain is endemic. Malarone also is not an effective treatment for cerebral or severe, complicated malaria, and there is a high instance of relapse if Malarone is the only drug used to treat an active case of malaria.
Malarone also can cause problems with liver function and complications in people who have hepatitis. There can be serious side effects to taking Malarone for malaria, including skin reactions, abdominal effects, neurological effects, weakness, and dizziness. Malarone is not recommended for pregnant women, and as it is unknown whether or not the drug can be secreted through breast milk, it is not recommended for women who are nursing.