Reviewer: No malaria for mw, 35-44 on Treatment for 1 to less than 2 years (Patient)

Comment:
I was given this medication upon deploying to the Middle East after 9/11. I took it weekly for a year while in country and another month after returning home. The worst side effects were the strange, vivid dreams that upon waking left me unable to realize the difference between the dream and reality. This was nothing compared to nightmares from PTSD. The side effects were worth it and a mild n ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I was given this medication upon deploying to the Middle East after 9/11. I took it weekly for a year while in country and another month after returning home. The worst side effects were the strange, vivid dreams that upon waking left me unable to realize the difference between the dream and reality. This was nothing compared to nightmares from PTSD. The side effects were worth it and a mild nuisance compared to contracting malaria. A proper risk/benefit analysis should be used to make a decision on the use of this medication but I will take it agin if I ever have to travel to area where malaria is found.
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Reviewer: LRMinthesky, 13-18 Male on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I last used this drug in 1997 on a trip to India to visit my family (I was 13 at the time). Fortunately, the medication prevented me from getting malaria. Unfortunately, it made me so psychologically miserable those three weeks I was there that I haven't been able to bring myself to visit my extended family there ever since. Not only did I have the depression and an extreme longing to retur ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I last used this drug in 1997 on a trip to India to visit my family (I was 13 at the time). Fortunately, the medication prevented me from getting malaria. Unfortunately, it made me so psychologically miserable those three weeks I was there that I haven't been able to bring myself to visit my extended family there ever since. Not only did I have the depression and an extreme longing to return home to the States (one that I never had on prior trips), I was also sweating like a horse at normal ambient temperatures (this gets even worse when there's no air conditioning and the heat index is 130F!), and vomiting a LOT (the pills taste horrible and even if you can get one down, it wants to get back up ASAP!). Careful with this med, esp. w/kids. People say it's "tried and true" for 40+ years, but that doesn't mean it's fun. Just hearing the word "Lariam" makes me shudder these days.
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Reviewer: 25-34 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months

Comment:
Suffered severe Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia while taking this drug. Took me many years to stop wanting to kill myself, let alone enjoy life at all. I had no previous problems with mental illness, but there is a history in my family. DO NOT TAKE this drug if you have a family history or any problems with mental illness yourself. It ruined as many as 10 yrs of my life.

Comment:
Suffered severe Anxiety, Depression and Paranoia while taking this drug. Took me many years to stop wanting to kill myself, let alone enjoy life at all. I had no previous problems with mental illness, but there is a history in my family. DO NOT TAKE this drug if you have a family history or any problems with mental illness yourself. It ruined as many as 10 yrs of my life.
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Reviewer: Lariam survivor, 35-44 Male on Treatment for less than 1 month (Patient)

Comment:
Took it in 2003 and found myself in a deep, dark pit that took me years to crawl out of. In addition to the usual symptoms, tinnitus, anxiety, panics attacks, etc, my emotions disappeared (except terror - that stayed). I guess you cannot imagine what it must be like not having emotions, until you experience it. And then pain disappeared. I could injure myself without feeling it.

Comment:
Took it in 2003 and found myself in a deep, dark pit that took me years to crawl out of. In addition to the usual symptoms, tinnitus, anxiety, panics attacks, etc, my emotions disappeared (except terror - that stayed). I guess you cannot imagine what it must be like not having emotions, until you experience it. And then pain disappeared. I could injure myself without feeling it.
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Reviewer: Bigblue88, 19-24 Female on Treatment for 1 to 6 months (Patient)

Comment:
I took this drug when I went to volunteer in Africa for 6 weeks. It turned out to be a complete disaster for me. IT RUINED MY LIFE. What was supposed to be a special time for me was wrecked by Lariam. I had insomnia, troubles breathing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, alchohol intolerance, liver damage, suicidal thoughts, and personality changes. I was not properly informed about these side effects w ... Show Full Comment

Comment:
I took this drug when I went to volunteer in Africa for 6 weeks. It turned out to be a complete disaster for me. IT RUINED MY LIFE. What was supposed to be a special time for me was wrecked by Lariam. I had insomnia, troubles breathing, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, alchohol intolerance, liver damage, suicidal thoughts, and personality changes. I was not properly informed about these side effects when I was perscribed Lariam. DO NOT TAKE IT. Only a few people have these effects, but if you are one of those people it will wreck your life.
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