Medication Information Leaflet
Anti-malarial medications can be taken to protect yourself from malaria, before traveling to an area that is known to be at risk. As malaria is commonly spread to humans through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito, it is important to note that medications do not offer complete protection and you should still take necessary precautions to avoid getting bitten during your travel.
They may include medications such as:
Anti-malarials should be taken regularly as recommended to give you the best protection against malaria. Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue normally. Do not take two doses or extra medication to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately.
For some of these medications, women of childbearing age need to take measures to avoid pregnancy while on them and for a period after the last dose. Consult your healthcare professional on the period to avoid pregnancy as this duration is different for each anti-malarial.
Even if you follow all recommendations to protect against malaria, you may still get malaria. Signs of malaria include:
If you experience any of these symptoms particularly within 3 months of your return, you should see a doctor immediately. Do not attempt to self-treat.
Anti-malarials may cause the following side effects:
These side effects are usually mild and go away after some time. However, if the symptoms do not go away or become worse, stop these medications and consult your healthcare professional.
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop these medications and see your doctor immediately.
Other symptoms of rare but serious side effects of these medications include:
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop these medications and see your doctor immediately.
Let your healthcare professional know if you are taking, or planning to take any herbal products, supplements or medications.
As these anti-malarial medications may interact with some medications or supplement, they should be taken at least 2 hours apart from these products.
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep these medications away from children.
Pack these medications into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing it into the rubbish chute or bin.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
The information above is solely for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medicine or other treatment. Always speak with your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional before taking any medicine or supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. Under no circumstances will the National Medication Information workgroup be liable to any person for damages of any nature arising in any way from the use of such information.
Last updated on September 2023
This article was last reviewed on Wednesday, August 28, 2024