In doses prescribed for the treatment of acute malaria, Larym® can produce side effects similar to those of the underlying disease.
The most frequent side effects during the prophylaxis of the drug Lariam® are usually poorly expressed and may decrease with continued use of the drug, regardless of the increasing concentration of the drug in the plasma: nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
The safety profile of mefloquine in preventive use is characterized by the predominance of neuropsychic reactions (see section "Special instructions").
The following data on adverse reactions are given on the basis of clinical studies of the drug Lariam® and post-marketing experience of the drug.
According to a study of the preventive use of mefloquine in patients who do not have immunity and plan a trip, adverse events from the nervous system and the psychic sphere arose in 28.8% of patients who received mefloquine, compared with 14% of patients who received atovaquone in combination with proguanil (see tables below). Serious adverse events associated with the use of the drug in both groups were not observed.
Undesirable effects associated with the use of the drug *
Phenomenon | Meflokhin n=483 Number (%) | Atovokwon-proganyan n=493 Number(%) |
Any undesirable phenomenon | 204 (42,2) | 149 (30,2) |
Any neuropsychic phenomenon | 139 (28,8) | 69 (14) |
- Unusual or vivid dreams | 66 (13,7) | 33 (6,7) |
- Insomnia | 65 (13,5) | 15 (3) |
- Vertigo or vertigo | 43 (8,9) | 11 (2,2) |
- Visual disturbances | 16 (3,3) | 8 (1,6) |
- Anxiety | 18 (3,7) | 3 (0,6) |
- Depression | 17 (3,5) | 3 (0,6) |
Any phenomenon from the gastrointestinal tract | 94 (19,5) | 77 (15,6) |
- Diarrhea | 34 (7) | 37 (7,5) |
- Nausea | 40 (8,3) | 15 (3) |
- Abdominal pain | 23 (4,8) | 26 (5,3) |
- Ulcers in the mouth | 17(3,5) | 29 (5,9) |
- Vomiting | 9 (1,9) | 7 (1,4) |
Headache | 32 (6,6) | 19 (3,9) |
Itching | 15 (3,1) | 12 (2,4) |
* The mean duration of treatment ± SD was 53 ± 16 days with mefloquine and 28 ± 8 days with atovaquone-proguanil.
Undesirable effects associated with the use of the drug, limited to the period of treatment*
Phenomenon | Meflokhin n=483 Number (%) | Atovokwon-proganyan n=493 Number (%) |
Any phenomenon during the treatment period | 24 (5) | 6 (1,2) |
Any neuropsychic phenomenon | 19 (3,9) | 3 (0,6) |
- Insomnia | 12 (2,5) | 2 (0,4) |
- Anxiety | 9 (1,9) | 1 (0,2) |
- Unusual or vivid dreams | 7 (1,4) | 1 (0,2) |
- Vertigo or vertigo | 7 (1,4) | 1 (0,2) |
- Depression | 3 (0,6) | 0 (0) |
- Visual disturbances | 3 (0,6) | 0 (0) |
- Concentration disorders | 3 (0,6) | 0 (0) |
- Other | 4 (0,8) | 0 (0) |
Any phenomenon from the gastrointestinal tract | 7 (1,4) | 1 (0,2) |
Headache | 6 (1,2) | 1 (0,2) |
Other | 6 (1,2) | 2 (0,4) |
* Average duration of treatment ± CO was 53 ± 16 days with mefloquine and 28 ± 8 days with atovaquone-proguanil.
In studies in vitro and in vivo it was shown that the drug does not cause hemolysis associated with insufficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Experience of post-registration application
Undesirable reactions are classified according to the classes of organ systems and the absolute frequency of occurrence of MedDRA. The incidence was determined as follows: very often (≥1/10), often (≥1 / 100 and <1/10), infrequently (≥1 / 1000 and <1/100), rarely (≥1 / 10000 and <1 / 1000), very rarely (<1/10000), the frequency is unknown (it is impossible to determine the frequency based on the available data). Due to the long-term presence of the drug on the market, the data presented in the list of undesirable reactions listed below reflect the frequency of occurrence of the messages received, and not the frequency of cases observed in controlled studies.
Violations of the blood and lymphatic system
Often: thrombocytopenia.
Infrequently: leukopenia, leukocytosis.
The frequency is unknown: agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia.
Disorders from the metabolism and nutrition
Often: anorexia.
Disorders of the psyche
Very often: sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmarish dreams).
Often: agitation, anxiety, anxiety,depression, aggression, emotional lability, panic attacks, confusion, hallucinations, bipolar disorder, psychotic reactions, including delusional disorder, depersonalization and mania, paranoia. Infrequently, these symptoms persisted for a long time after the discontinuation of mefloquine.
There have been reports of suicide, suicidal thoughts, behavior at risk of self-harm, for example, suicidal attempts.
Disturbances from the nervous system
Very often: dizziness, loss of balance, headache, drowsiness.
Often: fainting, memory impairment, sensory and motor neuropathies (including paresthesia, tremor, ataxia), seizures.
Infrequently: encephalopathy.
Disturbances on the part of the organ of sight
Often: impaired vision.
The frequency is unknown: blurred vision, cataracts, retinal lesions and neuropathy of the optic nerve with the possibility of delayed manifestation, both during and after the end of therapy.
Hearing disorders and labyrinthine disorders
Very often: vertigo.
Often: hearing impairment, vestibular disorders, including ringing in the ears.
Heart Disease
Often: tachycardia, palpitations, bradycardia, arrhythmia, extrasystoles, other transient disorders of cardiac conduction.
Infrequently: AV-blockade.
Vascular disorders
Often: circulatory disorders (decrease, increase in blood pressure, hot flashes).
Disturbances from the respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal organs
Often: shortness of breath.
Very rarely: pneumonia, pneumonitis (possibly allergic etiology).
Disorders from the gastrointestinal tract
Very often: nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting.
Often: indigestion.
Disturbances from the liver and bile ducts
The frequency is unknown: liver dysfunction associated with the use of the drug (from asymptomatic transient increase in the activity of transaminases to liver failure).
Disturbances from the skin and subcutaneous tissues
Often: skin rash, exanthema, erythema, urticaria, pruritus, alopecia, hyperhidrosis.
Infrequently: erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Disturbances from musculoskeletal and connective tissue
Often: muscle weakness, muscle cramps, myalgia, arthralgia.
Laboratory and instrumental data
Often: transient increase in transaminase activity.
General disorders and disorders at the site of administration
Often: swelling, chest pain, weakness, poor health, fatigue, chills, fever.