Buying Malaria tablets in Tanzania or Malawi
Replies: 9 - Last Post: Oct 30, 2012 1:43 PM Last Post By: metvier
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Buying Malaria tablets in Tanzania or Malawi
hello, my boyfriend and i will be travelling around East Africa for 6 months at least. we will have to take Anti Malaria tablets throughout that time, but rather than carrying the entire lot with us (and rattling a lot in the process!) i wondered how easy it is to purchase tablets in either Tanzania or Malawi, as they are the countries we will be in during the middle section of our trip? if it is relatively easy then we could only take the first few months of tables with us and then buy the rest out there. thanks for your advise in advance!! kimmy.1
Which anti-malarial are you planning on taking?I know malarone isn't approved for that length of time so it would be doxy or larium.
I think both should be available but get advice locally on reputable pharmacies as there are fakes around.
However, if you opt for larium this is only a weekly tablet so 6 months supply is only about 30 tablets and will hardly weigh you down.
2
Hi Kimmy,Yes you can buy Malaron from Tanzania but purchase from well known Medcs shops.
In Arusha you can buy from Moonas and Mac medics etc, In Dar es salaam visit shops around Poster.
Also on arrival your Tour operator will guide you where to get the easily.
3
Are you sure to take for such a long time Anti Malaria? Ask a doctor, what is his/her recommendation. I don't know anyone living here, who takes it. When you get sick, there is very good medication available for a cheaper price then Europe.5
I know malarone isn't approved for that length of time so it would be doxy or larium.
When Malarone was first licensed in the EU, experts felt that there were insufficient data on long-term use, so licensed it only for enough pills for a 28-day trip. Experts in other areas reached different conclusions and that limitation never applied outside the EU. The UK's current position is that Malarpne can probably be taken for at least a year, although the licensing restriction still applies.
Malarone is licensed for sale in Kenya, under the brand name Malanil. I had to previously heard of its availability in Tanzania.
6
I'm with Mrs Trellis.Each Larium box has eight tablets, one for each week so 4 packets. Space is 120mm x 60mm x 45mm, hardly rattling around if larium is your drug of choice.
The only other thing I would add is there are plenty of 'Fake' drugs being sold in Tz according to the expat community here.
Cheers.
8
You will be able to buy stand-by medication at pharmacies (try bigger ones in major cities or hospital pharmacies). Ask for Coartem/Riamed (Artemether and Lumefantrin) or a generic. Not so sure about the availability in smaller towns and villages (the medication is inexpensive so you can buy it on stock).9
Coartem is available in Malawi, certainly in the major towns. I used to live in Malawi for over two years and could buy it without any hassle.
