Anti-Malaria Drug May Be Unsafe for U.S. Troops: New Study
Nearly 10% of U.S. military personnel deployed to Afghanistan are not suitable candidates for mefloquine, an anti-malaria drug commonly administered by the military. The drug is also known by its trade name Lariam. The finding is the result of research published in a recent edition of Malaria Journal.
This latest study, conducted at the Army Medical Surveillance Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, involved nearly 12,000 active duty personnel, and was designed to identify psychiatric and neurological conditions that could make the use of mefloquine unsafe. Analysis of the data reveals that the drug is likely dangerous for approximately 1 in 12 deploying males and 1 in 5 deploying females. Among the conditions that contraindicate mefloquine are major depressive disorder and Parkinson's disease. The use of certain other prescription drugs may be dangerous in conjunction with mefloquine, as well.
Authors of the study also point out that malaria, itself, presents a serious threat to US military personnel, and that there has been evidence of at least 64 cases of Malaria attributable to service in Afghanistan in the last few years.
Although the long-term use of mefloquine has been considered safe and well tolerated, researchers caution that appropriate prescribing practices are required to avoid severe neuropsychiatric complications.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A recent military malpractice case that has garnered national attention
- New hospital policy recommendations regarding pediatric flu vaccination
- Guidelines for mumps immunization
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