Drug Safety Update
March 2022: Hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine: increased risk of cardiovascular events when used with macrolide antibiotics; reminder of psychiatric reactions
April 2020: Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest guidance on medicines safety - Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine
November 2017: Quinine: reminder of dose-dependent QT-prolonging effects; updated medicine interactions
Prophylaxis against malaria
The Department of Health (FHSL (95) 7) advises GPs that private prescription forms should be used to prescribe drugs for malaria prophylaxis. Chloroquine and proguanil are available 'over the counter' (OTC), whereas mefloquine, doxycycline and Malarone® require a private prescription. Some community pharmacies are now able to give travel advice and supply prescription only antimalarials .
Specialist travel health clinics are also available throughout the UK to give advice, administer vaccinations and supply antimalarials
Treatment of malaria
Note: Due to the risk of mixed falciparum and non-falciparum malarias, treatment should be directed against falciparium malaria unless, due to geographical contstraints or the results of diagnostic tests, one can be confident that infection is due purely to non-falciparum plasmodia