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by djsumdog 2260 days ago
> though many of our patients experienced severe side effects and couldn’t continue the treatment

I took chloroquine years ago as a preventative anti-malaria when I was in India. I didn't get the weird dreams, but I got the harsh bowl movement, heart palpations, etc. I had to stop taking it and so did someone else on the trip. Had I got malaria I knew it would be worse, but I could start taking them again as a treatment drug as well.

Others on the trip didn't have any issues so I'm sure it's individual, but it is a very serious drug that can be hard on your system. I don't think that's been made clear.

3 comments

Just out of curiosity, how long ago was it?

Malaria nowadays is very easy to prevent and treat with a course of atovaquone/proguanil, which have low side effect on the short run.

I want to know if doctors are still prescribing chloroquine despite of that. I know they do sometimes in the army.

> I took chloroquine years ago as a preventative anti-malaria when I was in India. I didn't get the weird dreams

The weird dreams and other neurological consequences that some unlucky travelers report when taking antimalaria prophylaxis, typically come from mefloquine (Lariam) and not chloroquine.

COVID19 hits patients with health problems and old age harder; those patients are probably also more sensitive to the side effects of chloroquine or other drugs.