Wednesday, February 27, 2002

Travelers to areas with malaria risk can put their nightmares to rest

Malaria is an international health problem affecting travelers. Each year, more than seven million Americans travel to areas where malaria occurs and 1,000-1,500 people contract the disease.

Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito, found in over 100 countries worldwide. The good news is that most cases of malaria are preventable.

Unfortunately, many travelers avoid taking appropriate malaria medication. An important factor contributing to this failure is the concern about the side effects associated with antimalarials.

A new scientific study shows that Malarone(TM) (atovaquone and proguanil HCI) Tablets, the newest preventive medication, is effective at preventing malaria and better tolerated than another medication called Lariam(R) (mefloquine, Roche Pharmaceuticals).

There have been reports linking Lariam to neuropsychiatric side effects, which have caused many travelers to use less-effective alternatives or to avoid taking antimalarials altogether.

Scientific study shows

Malarone is better tolerated

Travelers should be aware that there are safe and effective options to prevent this serious health threat. A recent study published in a leading medical journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases, compared the side effects of two antimalarial drugs: Lariam and Malarone.

The scientific study showed that Malarone has significantly fewer neuropsychiatric side effects such as strange or vivid dreams, insomnia, dizziness, anxiety and depression, than Lariam. In addition, researchers found that travelers taking Malarone were more likely to complete their prescribed post-travel course of the medication, therefore lowering their risk of developing malaria. This could be because of Malarone's convenient post-travel dosing: travelers need to take Malarone for only seven days upon returning from their trips compared to four weeks of Lariam.

"In my experience, many travelers are hesitant to take an antimalarial because of stories they heard about side effects associated with some antimalarials, like Lariam," said David Overbosch, M.D., lead investigator of the study. "That is why it is critical for travelers to speak to their doctor and learn about the different antimalarial options available, like Malarone, which is well tolerated."

Malarone(TM) (atovaquone and proguanil HCI) Tablets is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a first-line option to prevent malaria, including in areas of chloroquine resistance.

Malarone is indicated in adults and children for the prevention and treatment of acute, uncomplicated malaria caused by P. falciparum, the parasite responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths each year.

Malarone is contraindicated for prophylaxis of P. falciparum malaria in people with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min).

When planning your next trip, make your health a priority see your physician or a travel medicine expert before departing. For more information on risks of malaria and Malarone, access the World Wide Web at www.malarone.com or call 1-888-825-5249.

The most commonly reported adverse events possibly attributable to Malarone include headache and abdominal pain in adults and headache, abdominal pain and vomiting in pediatric patients, all of which occurred at rates comparable to placebo.

SIDE BAR: Important Facts About Malaria

* Malaria, transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, causes 300 to 500 million infections worldwide and several million deaths each year

* Malaria occurs in over 100 countries worldwide, placing nearly 40 percent of the world's population at risk. Large areas of Central and South America, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania are considered malaria-risk areas

* If not promptly treated, malaria may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death. Some types of malaria can relapse; some parasites can rest in the liver for months or even years after an infected mosquito bites a person