What this medicine is for
This medicine contains two types of tablets, Proguanil Hydrochloride and Chloroquine Phosphate. Both these tablets belong to a group of medicines called anti-malarials.
It can be used when you travel to some parts of the world to prevent you from getting malaria. Malaria is a serious disease spread by mosquitoes. The tablets in this pack give some degree of protection (prophylaxis) against malaria in certain countries. It can be used when it is necessary to take more than one type of medicine at the same time to prevent malaria.
Medicines to help prevent malaria (malaria prophylaxis) are recommended for:
- People travelling to countries where malaria occurs
- People living in malaria areas who are not immune to malaria
These people have little or no immunity to malaria, so they are at risk of severe attacks.
You must get medical advice on which anti-malarial medicines to take. You must always ask your doctor or pharmacist if this anti-malarial travel pack is suitable for the part of the world you are visiting.
Avoiding mosquito bites
When you are taking this medicine to prevent malaria, you should also reduce your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes.
Wear light-coloured, long sleeved clothing and long trousers when you are outside after sunset
Use insect repellent creams or sprays on parts of your body not covered by clothing
Sleep in a properly screened room or under a mosquito net
Spray to kill any mosquitoes that may have entered rooms in spite of screening
Signs of malaria
No medicine can be guaranteed to protect against malaria in every case. If you have a high temperature (fever) during your visit to a malaria area, or up to a year after returning home, you should suspect malaria. Contact a doctor and let them know you have visited a malaria area.
Before you take this medicine
This medicine can be taken by adults and children aged 1 year and over. However, some people should not take this medicine or should seek the advice of their pharmacist or doctor first.
Do not take:
- If you are allergic to any of the ingredients
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor:
- If you have ever had epilepsy, convulsions or fits
- If you have ever had problems with your liver or kidneys
- If you have a rare disease of the blood pigment called ‘porphyria’ or anyone in your family has it
- If you have a scaly condition of the skin called psoriasis
- If you have a muscular problem called ‘ myasthenia gravis’ – Chloroquine can increase the symptoms of this condition and reduce the effects of medicines used to treat it
- If you have a blood problem called ‘glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency’ -Chloroquine may damage blood cells in people with this condition
- If you are pregnant, may become pregnant or breastfeeding (see other important information)
Other important information
If you go into hospital, tell the medical staff you are taking both Proguanil and Chloroquine.
If you live in a country where malaria occurs, you may already be slightly immune to the disease. You must ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice before you take anti-malarial medicines.
If you need a vaccination against rabies, make sure you have it before you start your anti-malarial medicine. If you have your rabies injection at the same time as taking your anti-malarial medicines, your rabies vaccine might not work so well.
If you need to take this medicine for a long time such as when you stay in a malaria area for a long time, or live in that area, your doctor may ask you to have regular tests to check that your eyes, blood and liver are working correctly.
Driving and using machines:
Sometimes Chloroquine can cause blurred eyesight or make it difficult for your eyes to focus. If this happens, do not drive or use any machines.
Pregnancy:
If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, talk to a doctor or pharmacist:
Before you use this anti-malarial travel pack
Before you take any medicine to prevent malaria
Before you go to a country where there is malaria
Breastfeeding:
If you are breastfeeding, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using your anti-malarial travel pack.
Although Proguanil and Chloroquine pass into the breast milk the amount is not enough to protect your baby from malaria. Therefore, your baby will still need to be given anti-malarial medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist who will be able to give you advice.
If you take other medicines
Before you take these tablets, make sure that you tell your pharmacist about ANY other medicines you might be using at the same time, particularly the following:
- Praziquantel (used to treat infections of the bowel and bladder caused by parasites)
- Cyclosporin (mainly used by transplant patients but also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis)
- Anti-convulsant medicines (used to prevent convulsions and fits)
- Digoxin (used to treat heart problems)
- Warfarin or other medicines used to prevent blood clots – Proguanil may increase the effects of these medicines
- Other medicines to prevent malaria, such as mefloquine -There is a risk of convulsions or fits when these medicines are taken at the same time as chloroquine
- Cimetidine (used to treat stomach problems). This medicine affects how chloroquine is broken down by your body and may affect the amount of chloroquine in your body
- Amiodarone (used to control heart rate) – Chloroquine may increase the risk of uneven heart beat (cardiac arrhythmias) when it is taken at the same time as amiodarone
- Antacids (aluminium, calcium, magnesium salts that are used to treat heartburn or indigestion) – Antacids may reduce the amount of chloroquine absorbed from your gut and stop chloroquine working properly – If you take antacids take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take the chloroquine
If you are unsure about interactions with any other medicines, talk to your pharmacist. This includes medicines prescribed by your doctor and medicine you have bought for yourself, including herbal and homeopathic remedies.
How to take this medicine
Check the foil is not broken before use. If it is, do not take that tablet.
When to start taking this medicine
Start taking this medicine one week before you go to the malaria area
You must continue to take it during your stay
You must continue to take this medicine for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area
| Age | How many | How often |
| Adults and children of 14 years and overChildren of 9 to 13 years Children of 5 to 8 years Children of 1 to 4 years | Chloroquine: Two tablets Proguanil: Two tabletsChloroquine: One and a half tabletsProguanil: One and a half tablets
Chloroquine: One tablet Proguanil: One tablet Chloroquine: Half a tablet Proguanil: Half a tablet |
Once a week, on the same day each weekOnce a day, at the same time each dayOnce a week, on the same day each week
Once a day, at the same time each day Once a week, on the same day each week Once a day, at the same time each day Once a week, on the same day each week Once a day, at the same time each day |
Swallow the tablets or part tablets whole with a drink of water. Take the tablets after food. For young children you can crush the tablets and give them mixed with milk, honey or jam.
Do not give to children under 1 year.
Do not take more than the amount recommended above.
If you take too many tablets:
Talk to a doctor or go to your nearest hospital straight away. Take your medicine and this leaflet with you.
If you forget to take your Proguanil tablets:
If you forget a proguanil tablet, take it as soon as you remember
If it is nearly time for the next days tablet skip the tablet that you missed
Do not take two days tablets at the same time to make up for the one you forgot If you forget to take your Chloroquine tablets:
If you forget to take a Chloroquine tablet, take it as soon as you remember
Then wait 7 days before you take the next tablet of Chloroquine
Carry on taking your Chloroquine tablets each week, on this new day of the week
Stopping your anti-malarial travel pack:
Only stop using your anti-malarial travel pack four weeks after leaving the malaria area or if your doctor tells you to.
Possible side effects
Most people will not have problems, but some may get some. Most of the side effects listed here don’t happen very often, so do not be too concerned about this list, you may not get any of them.
If you get any of these serious side effects, stop taking the tablets. See a doctor at once:
- Difficulty in breathing
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing
- An itchy rash (similar to nettles or hives) These are all signs of an allergic reaction.
- These other effects are less serious. If they bother you talk to a pharmacist:
- Headache
- Stomach upsets, feeling sick, being sick, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach cramps
- The rest of these side effects occur infrequently, or may happen if you take the medicine for a long time:
- Mouth ulcers, sore mouth
- Feeling dizzy or light headed
- Convulsions or fits
- Mood changes or other effects on behaviour – these include feeling anxious or, rarely, seeing, feeling or hearing things that are not there
- Skin rash, including a scaly rash (psoriasis) or itch, which sometimes causes swelling of the affected area
- A severe rash with blisters or peeling of the skin and possibly blisters in the mouth and nose
- Discolouration of the skin or mucous membranes (such as inside your mouth)
- Being sensitive to sun light which may require medical treatment
- Changes in hair colour, hair loss (sometimes reversible)
- Blurred eyesight, some or complete loss of eyesight, difficulty in focusing your eyes, double vision
- Changes to the retina of your eye(s) leading to ‘patchy’ eyesight (retinopathy) – If you are using this medicine for a long time, your doctor may suggest that you have your eyes tested
- Hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- A reduced number of blood cells, which can make you bruise more easily, get serious infections, or feel very tired or breathless – If you are using this medicine pack for a long time, your doctor may suggest that you have blood tests
- Changes in the way your heart works (known as ‘electrocardiographic changes’)
- Weakening or change in the heart muscle, which may make you feel tired or short of breath
- Liver problems which may cause yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes – If you are using this medicine for a long time, your doctor may suggest that you have blood tests to check how well your liver is working
- Swelling of the lungs which may cause a condition called ‘diffuse parenchymal lung disease’ – If you get serious difficulty in breathing, stop taking the tablets and see a doctor at once
- High temperature (fever)
- Weakening of your muscles (neuromyopathy)
If any side effect becomes severe, or you notice any side effect not listed here, please tell your pharmacist or doctor.
How to store this medicine
Do not store above 30°C.
Protect the tablets from light and moisture, and keep them in the carton that they came in.
Keep this medicine in a safe place out of the sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard.
Use by the date on the end flap of the carton.
What is in this medicine
Each Chloroquine tablet contains Chloroquine Phosphate 250 mg (equivalent to 155 mg Chloroquine base), which is the active ingredient.
As well as the active ingredient, the tablet also contains magnesium stearate and maize starch.
The pack contains 14 white round tablets. They have a break line on one side with the letter ‘A’ on both sides of the line.
Each Proguanil tablet contains Proguanil Hydrochloride 100 mg, which is the active ingredient.
As well as the active ingredient, the tablet also contains calcium carbonate, gelatine, magnesium stearate and maize starch.
The pack contains 98 white round tablets. They have a break line on one side with the letter ‘P’ on both sides of the line.
The whole pack contains 112 tablets (98 Proguanil and 14 Chloroquine).