title: Mefloquine tolerability during chemoprophylaxis: focus on adverse event assessments, stereochemistry and compliance.
abstract: This longitudinal study of travellers to Africa taking mefloquine (MQ) chemoprophylaxis aimed to quantify and assess non-serious adverse events (AE) occurring during short-term prophylaxis and relate these to concentrations of racemic MQ, its enantiomers and metabolite. A total of 420 volunteers (52% F) participated. AEs with some impact on activities were reported by 11.2% of participants including 7.9% of neurological/psychiatric symptoms. Women were more likely to report AEs (P = 0.02). The standardized questionnaires used showed more pathological indicators in travellers who reported subjective AE with significantly more dizziness, distress, sleep disturbances and a high total mood disturbance (TMD) in the AE group. There was, however, no significant performance deficit in computerized psychomotor tests in those experiencing AE. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in enantiomer ratios, metabolite concentrations, or racemic MQ levels in participants with or without AEs suggesting that these factors are not the main predictors of mefloquine intolerability.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zürich.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lobel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Letz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tschopp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vranjes
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bergqvist
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ericsson
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hellgren
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rombo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mannino
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Handschin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stürchler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D015767:Mefloquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012737:Sex Factors; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D015767:Mefloquine