Has anyone had negative outcomes from Mephaquin Mondays?

2017-01-09T09:16:54-05:00

I keep seeing articles pop up about negative side effects from Mephaquin, an anti-malaria drug that was used in Iraq and AFG. Other than the freaky bad dreams, has anyone had other bad experiences or outcomes from this?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 9:41 AM

2017-01-09T09:41:17-05:00

There were reports that a study was underway for linking an increase in violence in Ft. Bragg to mefloquine and I know the FDA issued a warning in its wake. In 2010, we only had a handful on it in our brigade.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2017 12:02 PM

2017-01-09T12:02:13-05:00

Disrupted sleep patterns partially attributed to long term use of the drug. As explained to me, the reason why the drug induces such vivid dreams is it interrupts a person's sleep-awake cycle. Since a person is constantly drifting in and out of REM (deep sleep) the dreams seem more vivid and lucid. Over extended use, people like myself can develop irregular sleep patterns where you are unable to stay in deep sleep for extended periods of time (never more than 1 to 2 hours at a time).

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Jan 9 at 2017 1:54 PM

2017-01-09T13:54:09-05:00

Like most, I've taken it several times. The only issue was when we (our Company) took the 14 pill series of mephaquin pills, mixed with the old malaria prescription (can't remember the name) of 14 pills when we left Somalia in 94. It was horrible. We all stayed in the fetal position on the couch at home for the two weeks of return block leave and sat around shaking with homicidal thoughts. Our wives didn't much care for that redeployment. They were pissed. But we lived through it, and never received the two pill mix again.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 9 at 2017 3:15 PM

2017-01-09T15:15:55-05:00

I was pre Mephaquin. I got into a different strain of malaria in northern Cambodia. At the time, they just kept me on primaquine for months. That strain was tenacious in the liver. What it and the meds did was to mess with my enzyme balance which meant I was lethargic and felt like crap for 6 months. Guess the cure was ultimately better than the disease, but it was touch and go for a while. They had us on doxycycline while we were in country but don't know what the protocol is now.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 10 at 2017 5:44 PM

2017-01-10T17:44:19-05:00

I never had a negative outcome from Mefloquine Mondays, but only because I observed "Mefloquine Tuesdays" followed by "Tuesday Night Terrors" and "Haggard Appearing Wednesdays". One night I woke up from a particularly vivid nightmare leaning against a wall...

Response by SSG Matthew Koehler made Jan 24 at 2017 1:14 PM

2017-01-24T13:14:58-05:00

Back in 07' we had to start taking malaria pills for an upcoming Panama deployment. I became deathly ill within a few days of starting those pills. I saw my primary care physician. He said I was pneumonia like and sent me out for chest x-rays. He also told me to stop taking the malaria pills, so I did. The illness cleared up in about 2 weeks after stopping the pills.

Response by Jerry Rivas made Jan 24 at 2017 5:05 PM

2017-01-24T17:05:00-05:00

Be careful taking Chantix to quit smoking then....The dreams were WILD !!!! And if you've already had em....you might be more prone.

Response by SFC Joseph Collins made Jan 24 at 2017 11:41 PM

2017-01-24T23:41:23-05:00

My unit deployed in '03 and we were all given the pills to help prevent our chances of getting malaria. Eight of us out of the entire Company had allergic reactions after taking the pills for only a week or two. At first the medics said it was the "crud, then flu, then the Anaphylactic Shock symptoms started to show. We were allowed to stop taking the pills. Took about two more weeks to fully recover. All of us got the red medic alert tags and bracelets when we got back from deployment. I never had to take another anti-malaria drug again when I deployed.

Response by MAJ Ron Peery made Feb 16 at 2017 9:21 PM

2017-02-16T21:21:51-05:00

No, because, uhhhh, I never took mine. I think I dumped it in the latrine after reading the line on the label that said "avoid exposure to sunlight." In Afghanistan? Really?

Response by SPC Roger D. Pemberton Jr. made May 22 at 2017 2:39 PM

2017-05-22T14:39:00-04:00

I was in the Guard when we went to Iraq in 03. My memory is horrible but I'm thinking we were given doxycycline for malaria prevention. One pill every day until we were told we didn't have to take it anymore. Two things stand out immediately, one that much antibiotics kills the good gut flora too and two it totally contracts the birth control that some of the females were taking. As a side note given the S.A.D. policy birth control shouldn't have been a concern. That's a totally different subject though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2017 3:01 PM

2017-05-22T15:01:55-04:00

I never took mine lol

Response by Cpl Karl Bock made May 22 at 2017 8:12 PM

2017-05-22T20:12:00-04:00

I dont know if its from the pills, I didnt take them all the time like we were supposed to but, I haven't taken a quality dump since I've been back. Ive been out since 2004.

Response by SN Brian Fathke made Jul 18 at 2017 1:01 PM

2017-07-18T13:01:13-04:00

It's known to cause brain damage and it's hard to tell as it mimics PTSD to the letter.

Response by SPC Kari Grove Wright made Jul 18 at 2017 2:33 PM

2017-07-18T14:33:00-04:00

I always took mine in the morning. I'd have balance issues. So I stopped taking them.

Response by Cpl Michael Cron made Jul 18 at 2017 2:34 PM

2017-07-18T14:34:32-04:00

When taking in 03 first deployment had wicked dreams shits, fever, and cramping. Still forcefed that with small pox and anthrax shots just took long time to get back to the normal side. Also they said it made me aggressive but Marines always

Response by SGT Jim Tough made Jul 18 at 2017 3:17 PM

2017-07-18T15:17:20-04:00

My original thought was they were talking about Paxil....

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2017 3:44 PM

2017-07-18T15:44:24-04:00

Apart from colorful dreams, no.
Doxy made me hurl like a bulimic berserker, though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2017 4:30 PM

2017-07-18T16:30:03-04:00

I am already probe to medicinal side effects. If there is a side effects, I WILL experience it with horrible intensity. I read the side effects and left mine in my duffel the entire deployment. No way.

Response by SFC Charles Kauffman made Jul 18 at 2017 4:48 PM

2017-07-18T16:48:12-04:00

Hey, that was the only form of entertainment we had for a long time at Camp Morehead, Afghanistan.

Response by SGT Shauna Berntsen made Jul 18 at 2017 9:03 PM

2017-07-18T21:03:44-04:00

We had doxy and is like every time

Response by Sgt Joe Duffy made Jul 18 at 2017 10:14 PM

2017-07-18T22:14:53-04:00

I said "oh shit" as soon as I saw this post. Yes, on Operation New Horizons in the 90's only the Marines were given Mefloquine while the rest of the services were given the other stuff. On Mefloquine Monday they made us take them in front of the doc and had to fill out a form about how we felt. There was only about 30 or so Marines and it was like we were roid raging then I would be crying then up chasing down someone for no reason ready to kill them. The other side effects were we didn't get suntanned even though we were on the equator, no night vision at all could see our hands if we stretched them out at night, the nightmares and the manic depressive episodes were out of control! I ended up all messed up when I got back. We had to stay on it for 3 months after returning CONUS. I was not surprised to see it's now on the VA list of exposures you can be rated for. I made sure all of that got transferred to my permanent Med records from the deployment records. I bet my life would be completely different if I had never taken that shit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2017 10:18 PM

2017-07-18T22:18:37-04:00

Deployed to Iraq a few times. The first time something didn't feel right so I never took mine. Decided to chance it and repeated my decision. Now I'm glad I did after what I've been reading.

Response by LCpl Aaron Freeman made Jul 19 at 2017 5:17 AM

2017-07-19T05:17:00-04:00

The PB pills in Saudi were much worse!

Response by SPC Kyle Williams made Jul 19 at 2017 8:14 AM

2017-07-19T08:14:22-04:00

I was in iraq 08-09. Never took any anti malaria drugs, while I was in the army

Response by SGT Christi Vinson Parvino made Jul 19 at 2017 1:15 PM

2017-07-19T13:15:01-04:00

Took them twice in Afghanistan on 04-05. Then threw them away. Had a ruptured brain aneurysm 3 months after getting home. Makes me wonder...

Response by CPL M4pl4gu3 . made Jul 19 at 2017 1:42 PM

2017-07-19T13:42:20-04:00

I had headaches and achy joints the first month in country. I never took it again after I had a really vivid dream I was peeing, and I really did piss in my cot. Woke up mid stream, 30 mins before wake-up at like 0330. I scrambled to get new uniform, showered, my sleeping bag in the washer, and wash my cot before mission without anyone finding out. Maybe b/c we were on a cop the whole time but nobody cared or checked to makes sure we were taking it. Having intense dreams is under stated.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2017 3:11 PM

2017-07-19T15:11:57-04:00

I took doxy for a over 40 months total time and never had an issue. But my wife got sick from it so they gave her Mephaquin and she had the crazy dreams and stomach issues. We were told the reason you get stomach and colon issues from it is because it kills ALL the bacteria, good and bad so you cannot digest food properly.

Response by SFC Don Olds made Jul 19 at 2017 5:29 PM

2017-07-19T17:29:42-04:00

Response by 1stSgt Troy Seals made Jul 19 at 2017 6:14 PM

2017-07-19T18:14:27-04:00

How many in Iraq and Afghanistan got malaria?

Response by MAJ Luca Luca made Jul 19 at 2017 6:46 PM

2017-07-19T18:46:29-04:00

I off loaded that garbage into the dirt.
Ibuprofen on the other hand, that shit has done mui amountsof damage to my insides. I think I would passed on that if I knew what the long term was.
Rip It gave me the shits like I was dying, not a drug, but handed out none the less...

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2017 7:18 PM

2017-07-19T19:18:00-04:00

Never experienced Mephaquin. We were mandated to take Doxy. I stopped in Manas after the dreams hit with the stomach symptoms. Never even saw a mosquito in Helmand. Lots of wasps though

Response by SSgt Sean Darnell made Jul 19 at 2017 10:15 PM

2017-07-19T22:15:26-04:00

26th MEU in Afghanastan in 2001 they made us take that crap and there is nothing good about it

Response by SPC Jeremy Spaulding made Jul 19 at 2017 10:48 PM

2017-07-19T22:48:03-04:00

We had chloraquin. Lots of vivid dreams and stomach issues according to those who took it. I cheeked them....

Response by SPC Mark Stevens made Jul 19 at 2017 11:57 PM

2017-07-19T23:57:45-04:00

The wonderful world of mephaquin(and his ugly sisters). Dumped it before taking it because of the ugly side effects. The GI issues are pretty common(as with most antibiotics), but the nervous system breakdown/mood lability/chance of tender tear(especially Achilles) made it easy to stay away. It is a nasty, nasty class of antibiotics and I'm glad I never took it. Civilian sector it's pretty much a "last resort" antibiotic given when other antibiotics aren't working or a relatively serious STD.

Response by PO1 Tharin Young made Jul 20 at 2017 3:14 AM

2017-07-20T03:14:52-04:00

I have no memory of strange dreams, but I distinctly remember about 3 months after returning home being excited about finally taking a solid dump

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 9:02 AM

2017-07-20T09:02:06-04:00

After a week of horrific dreams we all stopped taking it

Response by SGT Jesse Neighbors made Jul 20 at 2017 9:13 AM

2017-07-20T09:13:07-04:00

Took it before Central American trip. Nightmares, sweating and some cognitive processing issues. Stopped taking it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 11:12 AM

2017-07-20T11:12:10-04:00

I saw that one of the side effects was sensitivity to sun light and being a ginger I was very apprehensive about that one thing. I took it anyways. When I got to Afghanistan I was outside for 5 mins and got a nasty sunburn. That was the last day I took it.

Response by SPC Greg Smith made Jul 20 at 2017 4:42 PM

2017-07-20T16:42:31-04:00

I read an article a few years back that was linking the malaria pills to eczema flareups. I don't remember having eczema issues before I took the malaria pills. Now I'm taking claratin daily to keep my eczema in check. I was deployed MAR03-MAR04

Response by SrA Paul Borrell made Jul 20 at 2017 5:42 PM

2017-07-20T17:42:07-04:00

Had soldiers come to the clinic all the time dreading their malaria shots. Happy they stopped using Mephaquin.

Response by SSG Rick Burrell made Jul 20 at 2017 6:30 PM

2017-07-20T18:30:24-04:00

It just aint good for ya- but malaria is worse

Response by SPC Nathan Acreman made Jul 20 at 2017 6:36 PM

2017-07-20T18:36:04-04:00

We used mephaquin when I was in Afghanistan in 05. I had a dream that I was caught in a burning room, the detail was crazy from watching where the fire started all the way to where it surrounded me. Very vivid.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 7:36 PM

2017-07-20T19:36:01-04:00

I finally read "Roughneck 91" a great book about a 3d SFG ODA in AFG (but I'm biased). They had a OS moment when they thought their perimeter was being overrun but it turned out to be a team member having a bad mephaquin dream about a snake. I can totally relate.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 20 at 2017 9:02 PM

2017-07-20T21:02:18-04:00

Are we talking about Mefloquine? Or have they switched drugs?

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 9:19 PM

2017-07-20T21:19:28-04:00

Never took the anti-malaria drugs. The side effects were too dicey to mess with. In Afghanistan we were in an arid area at high altitude--not exactly mosquito terrain. I was more worried about the cholera outbreak in Kabul when I was there in 2013-14. In Iraq I was never issued any pills so I count myself lucky there.

Response by SGT Alana Hall made Jul 20 at 2017 11:07 PM

2017-07-20T23:07:21-04:00

I only ever took doxycycline. Crazy realistic dreams.

Response by SGT Jason Baker made Jul 21 at 2017 3:16 PM

2017-07-21T15:16:34-04:00

In 08 my unit deployed to Afghanistan we started taking mephaquin and within a few days half of us were literally just out of commission for about four days. Sudden uncontrolled vomiting and diarrhea. I thought for a second that I was going to be medivac'd out. Had to have 3-4 I.V's a day just to get fluids pushed through. The P.A. On the fob did a test to see if I had malaria which came out negative. About two weeks into deployment they changed the anti malaria meds. No one got sick again.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2017 7:17 PM

2017-07-21T19:17:50-04:00

Have taken all the the "quins" (prima, chloro, metha sp?) for PI, Gulf, Somalia but have no idea about any lasting impact. I remember stomach issues while taking them but that's about it. Just a rotten stomach and churning, but I guess that was a better alternative than malaria. The gamma globulin shots in each cheek were a pain in the a** for sure though. Has been close to 30 years for some so I guess it never caused anything lasting. Premature senility maybe.

Response by SPC Marco Castillo made Jul 21 at 2017 10:27 PM

2017-07-21T22:27:31-04:00

How far back does this stuff go? Back in '90 before we took off to Korea (Team Spirit) we were injected with something then given a 24 hour leave. We couldnt go anywhere. My butt hurt alot at the injection site, it was agony. I remember having horrible nightmares that night as well. I sometimes get very angry but it only lasts for short bursts. I wonder if that drug did that to me? Can anyone answer this?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 6:23 AM

2017-07-22T06:23:52-04:00

I got edgey as all get out and very short tempered while on it also to include the wired realistic dreams.

Response by SPC Bill Mize made Jul 22 at 2017 9:50 AM

2017-07-22T09:50:49-04:00

I have suffered with depression since leaving the Army in 91, I have know so many others with this issue, we all know about the suicide rate of our brothers and sisters, the only thing that we all have in common is the shots we all received in boot camp, could there be a correlation with this, do we even know what was in those shots?

Response by Maj Suann Davison made Jul 22 at 2017 4:00 PM

2017-07-22T16:00:56-04:00

You can file a claim if you took and and had issues. http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/mefloquine-lariam.asp

Mefloquine (Lariam) - Public Health

Veterans who took mefloquine for protection against malaria while deployed should contact their health care provider if concerned about side effects.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2017 4:24 PM

2017-07-22T16:24:26-04:00

I took doxycycline when I deployed my last and I had a allergic reaction to it for two years, causes body covering hives, from head to two and they swelled up, close my throat, couldn't breathe at times. Have to carry an epi pin with me at all times. I had to be on 6 different meds to control the reactions and also had to take a $3000 dollar shot on top of the meds to help because the meds themselves couldn't stop the hives. And all of a sudden two years later, they are gone. When I got home the doctors didn't know what doxy was or what it was used for and I was like, you guys are the ones that prescribed it And the doctors asked me why I took them and I told them well it was that or get an article 15 for not. So take the pill or loose my career. Next time if they try to make me take them, I will happly get out.

Response by MSgt Randel West made Jul 22 at 2017 6:52 PM

2017-07-22T18:52:11-04:00

This stuff gave me strang disturbing dreams

Response by PO2 Brian Wherry made Jul 23 at 2017 12:17 PM

2017-07-23T12:17:23-04:00

Had to take that crap for a deployment once, seriously thought I was losing it! Had to be off it a few weeks before I felt like myself again.

Response by SFC Scotty Anderson made Jul 23 at 2017 1:15 PM

2017-07-23T13:15:20-04:00

Thyroid function is out of wack..... anyone else???

Response by MSG Bob Metz made Jul 23 at 2017 6:38 PM

2017-07-23T18:38:59-04:00

Never had any issues with anti-malarial...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2017 6:40 PM

2017-07-23T18:40:49-04:00

Oh yeah.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2017 6:41 PM

2017-07-23T18:41:46-04:00

But it was mefloquine.

Response by 1SG Jim Bishop made Jul 24 at 2017 3:55 AM

2017-07-24T03:55:42-04:00

Sure. Mephaquin was a little scary. Then we had Doxy at the same time. In Mali a SFC was given Mephaquin daily for a week accidentally. We had to take his weapon away. I remember Mephaquin Mondays well. Only real colors in the desert.

Response by SSG Tim Ingle made Jul 24 at 2017 10:20 AM

2017-07-24T10:20:15-04:00

I took it in Somalia 93, and in Iraq 03. Very strange dreams both deployments. In Somalia ,I did get flu like symptoms, diarrhea but I atributed it to having a bad cup of tea while visiting with Indian troops on their compound. It tore me up for about a week, but it happened right after I took the pill with a meal the following day.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2017 3:37 PM

2017-07-24T15:37:32-04:00

I took it before going to Thailand, the PI, Cambodia, etc., and never had any ill affects from it.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 8:49 AM

2017-07-25T08:49:53-04:00

Oh ya crazy realistic dreams

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 1:23 AM

2017-07-27T01:23:57-04:00

Yes. I've taken it for about four or five deployments, and for extended periods of time. Last time was in 2013 over an 8 month period. I developed vertigo pretty bad. Became more emotional, lost my patience pretty easily , got easily angered, and have trouble recalling things/memory loss. I finally got seen for PTSD, and was told that while I may show some signs, they believe that my issues are not psychological and are indicating the symptoms are all due to the mefloquine I took. It's in my medical record, but there is no form of treatment being provided for long term care. I'm curious as to how the VA will deal with this.

Response by Capt Jennifer Parsons Kangas made Jul 27 at 2017 9:30 AM

2017-07-27T09:30:03-04:00

They gave us anti-malaria pills for a deployment to Ecuador. I got horrific stomach pains. It was the dry season in Manta so I quit taking them. We all did.
Then one day, one of the airmen came into the office pale, shaking, and doubled over. He was in the fetal position on our couch. We called the flight doc. For a few days I was a little worried that maybe I made my decision in haste, especially after the DO said, "make sure you're taking the malaria pills." Then we found out the airmen in question just had a really bad case of the s****. I never took the pills again. I never contracted malaria either.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 9:40 AM

2017-07-27T09:40:42-04:00

In the the Nam we took malaria pill every monday morning formation. By noon time latrines were full. Most guys got the runs never had any effect on me.

Response by Sgt Angelo Hamm made Jul 30 at 2017 7:52 AM

2017-07-30T07:52:33-04:00

Im 70% disabled through the VA for mental issues due to Mefloquine toxicity.

Response by Sgt Angelo Hamm made Jul 30 at 2017 7:54 AM

2017-07-30T07:54:40-04:00

Im getting 70% disability through the VA due to mefloquine toxicity. My brain chemistry is all screwed up. All sorts of mental issues now.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2017 10:14 PM

2017-07-31T22:14:59-04:00

I have never gotten this drug but I can honestly say I have heard so many horror stories from battle buddies in my unit that have, and that shit is not no joke it messed them up for a while if not permanently in ways.

Response by PO1 Michael Bruner made Jul 31 at 2017 11:58 PM

2017-07-31T23:58:53-04:00

No, but I DID have a negative reaction to a polio vaccine back in '02.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 25 at 2019 3:35 PM

2019-07-25T15:35:05-04:00

After retirement, I did contract work in Africa for 10 years, training battalions for peacekeeping deployments. Because I actually preferred Mefloquine over doxy and other treatments, I took Mefloquine for 5 or 6 years until nobody would give it to me any more. However, now a few years later, it seems that it may be linked to developing neuropathy in my feet and legs. Seems that it may be linked to neurological problems. I wish I would have known that back then. Some days they burn so bad I just want to make it stop.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2020 12:33 PM

2020-07-28T12:33:03-04:00

After day 3 I had blisters all over my tongue

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2020 10:20 AM

2020-07-29T10:20:08-04:00

I was prescribed Primaquine. I took it for a few weeks, but stopped because of the nightmares. I kept taking Doxycycline though.

Response by SGT Daniel Rocco Ames made Jul 29 at 2020 3:05 PM

2020-07-29T15:05:11-04:00

My first deployment was in '06, so thankfully, as far I can remember we didn't have to take those. We did have to take several Anthrax vaccines, which caused reactions in a lot of us.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Jan 24 at 2021 5:42 PM

2021-01-24T17:42:47-05:00

Not from this, but in my orientation at Lejeune we were advised to stay away from the Jimsyn Weed. It causes hallucinations and it also contained strychnine which obviously can kill you, or cause body organs to fail. We were told we’d be charged and prosecuted if caught. Where this came from I don’t know, because in a bit less than 3 years there I never heard of anyone eating it. Never an issue.

Response by SPC Richard Stengline made Jan 24 at 2021 8:59 PM

2021-01-24T20:59:12-05:00

Don't know what they gave us in "85" when we went to CA big orange MF'er made you piss orange and tore your insides up.

Response by SFC Don Ward made Jan 18 at 2022 11:23 PM

2022-01-18T23:23:58-05:00

Are you sure of the spelling? Could you be talking about Mefloquine instead?