Preventing further MALARIA madness

I am not a Dr. and I do not pretend to be one. Prior to leaving the U.S., I visited 3 different medical professionals and institutions for proper medical travel preparation. I was prescribed Mefloquin- generic of Lariam but not one medical professional asked me about any prior psychological history. On the plane over here, my seat neighbor expressed great shock that Mefloquin is still legally on the market. Upon arrival in Senegal, I began to have bizarre and frequent dreams. I asked around and found it common knowledge that mefloquin is, “scary.” Now, three months into travel I have not slept an entire night without disturbing dreams/neurotic thought processes. This week I stopped taking it and now I search for a new med.

I am scared about the lack of info I found in the States. So I've taken some time to compile some info. There needs to be more options and discussion for other people going abroad. The following information is by no means comprehensive nor should it be taken for medical advice. It is a starting block for further education and discussion and is actually snipets of a flier I plan on emailing to the medical institutions I visited. If you know someone who would benefit from it, please contact me at ellenk_miller@yahoo.com or check out the sources listed below.

Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease caused by a parasite that commonly infects a certain type of mosquito which feeds on humans.

Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito. Only Anopheles mosquitoes can transmit malaria and they must have been infected through a previous blood meal taken on an infected person. When a mosquito bites an infected person, a small amount of blood is taken in which contains microscopic malaria parasites. About 1 week later, when the mosquito takes its next blood meal, these parasites mix with the mosquito's saliva and are injected into the person being bitten.

Signs and symptoms of malaria
Symptoms include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells. Infection with one type of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, if not promptly treated, may cause kidney failure, seizures, mental confusion, coma, and death.
How soon will a person feel sick after being bitten by an infected mosquito?
For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as 7 days or as late as 1 year later. Two kinds of malaria, P. vivax and P. ovale, can occur again (relapsing malaria). In P. vivax and P. ovale infections, some parasites can remain dormant in the liver for several months up to about 4 years after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito. When these parasites come out of hibernation and begin invading red blood cells ("relapse"), the person will become sick.
When and where does a person stand the most risk of contracting malaria?
Dusk: Mosquitoes are most active in the early evening. The best way of avoiding malaria is not to get bitten, so take precautions.

THE DRUGS
Preventative Drugs:
Chloroquine Aralen, Avloclor, Nivaquine, Resochin
Chloroquine/proguanil Savarine
Doxycycline Vibramvcin
Atovaquone/proguanil Malarone

Drugs for Treatment: (uncomplicated)
Amodiaquine Camoquine
Artemether/lumefantrine Riament, Coartem
Chloroquine Aralen, Avloclor
Mefloquine Eloquine, Larium, Mephaquin
Atovaquone/roguanil Malarone

Chloroquine/Paludrine Two chloroquine tablets weekly, plus two tablets of Paludrine daily is the traditional regimen, starting one week before travel and continuing for four weeks after return. It is safe and licensed, but is not effective in much of sub-Saharan Africa, Amazonia and South-East Asia.
Lariam One tablet weekly, starting two-and-a-half weeks before travel and continuing for three to four weeks after return. Effective in most parts of the world, except for northern Thailand, the "Golden Triangle" (parts of Burma, Laos, Thailand) and other parts of South-East Asia. Unpopular, on account of relatively high rates of side-effects compared with other drugs.
Doxycycline One tablet daily, starting one week before travel and continuing for four weeks after return. Carries a risk of an exaggerated sunburn reaction that ranges from three to 10 per cent, and has a tendency to cause thrush in women. Unsuitable for children or during pregnancy.
Malarone One tablet daily. Fully licensed for treatment of malaria (in at least 32 countries), but not yet licensed for prevention. In trials, the rate of side-effects was no greater in people taking Malarone than in those taking a placebo. It is believed to be the most effective of all of the options. Expensive.
Savarine One tablet daily, starting one week before travel and continuing for four weeks after return. Each tablet contains both chloroquine and Paludrine. The total dose of chloroquine is higher than with the weekly regimen and there is strong evidence that this is a more effective option. Savarine is licensed throughout the EU, with the exception of the UK and Germany. Expensive.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/722068/Malaria-why-you-are-denied-the-drugs-that-could-save-your-life.html

EDUCATE YOURSELF!!
http://www.cdc.org/
www.who.org
http://www.malariaandhealth.com/
http://www.malaria.org/
www.malaria.com