Phuket

Gary H. · #1 09-02-2005, 15:58

Do/have any of the B.M's take Malaria tablets for trips to Phuket?
I know it's not normally recommended, but what about after tsunami?

Cheers

aussie dollar · #2 09-02-2005, 16:06

never worried in past
good question now

geespot · #3 09-02-2005, 16:55

U dont need them

Take stuff for hangover instead, albeit there are almost as many pharmacies in Patong as bars

G

steveski · #4 09-02-2005, 18:24

I don’t know if you need them but look into the side effects of the antimalarials.
If you are going to use them for a prolonged period.
Also a lot of strains of malaria are immune to the antimalarials available.
Also after you get back home there is another bunch of drugs you have to take to flush the unhatched eggs out of your liver if they are there. That is what I had to do a few years ago, don’t know if it is still the same now though. I did not feel good they whole time that I was there and using them, feeling like shit for 4 weeks wasn’t fun either but I guess neither would be getting malaria. When I seen all of the side effects and that combined with feeling not so good for 4 weeks I swore never again.
Steveski.

LivinLOS · #5 09-02-2005, 18:32

Never used them.. Dont even believe it is recommended for Phuket.. Go up to the Laos border and you might want to consider them..

I have been all over indo and africa.. Never used em.. Lots of G&T's tho

Allybabba22 · #6 09-02-2005, 19:00

I asked my doctor and he told me that unless you were going up country or into any jungles you do not need them, He told me that if I was to take them they could have really nasty side-affects that could last upto 6wks and then even after all of that they probably would'nt work due to the different strains there is

So I decided against them

stevem · #7 09-02-2005, 19:18

Simple answer NOT!!

Captain · #8 09-02-2005, 20:43

I don't think it is necessary to take them in Phuket.
But I have seen guys with malaria attacks and I certainly take the tablets if it is necessary.
Just check out (or let your doctor do it) what kind of malaria excists in the country you are going to and take the apprpriate prophylaxis. It can be paludrine, nivaquine, lariam, malarone...
The tablets will not help you staying malariafree, but if you catch malaria the hospitals can give you a better treatment (bigger doses) as your body is used to it.