In-vitro drug sensitivity tests were performed on Philippine isolates of Plasmodium falciparum between 1991 and 1993, using the radioisotope microdilution method. The success of the tests varied significantly with the level of parasitaemia, the source of the strains, the period that elapsed before culturing, and the detectable concentrations of antimalarials in the blood. There was a significan...

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is an opportunistic infection of the human nervous system caused by the JC virus. We report what is, to the best of our knowledge, the second reported case using a combination of mefloquine and mirtazapine in a patient with non-AIDS-related PML with a good clinical outcome. Conversely, the recent trial of mefloquine in 21 patients with AIDS and 3...

A fixed-dose pediatric formulation of artesunate and mefloquine (Artequin Pediatric) has been developed. In this open, non-comparative study in Cameroonian children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria, the safety and efficacy of this formulation was tested, with a particular emphasis on the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse events (AEs). In total, 220 subjects, weighing between 10 and 20 kg, w...

The treatment efficacy and effects of artesunate-mefloquine (AMQ) and mefloquine (MQ) on malaria-associated anemia (MAA) were evaluated in 342 children <or= 10 years of age with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria randomized to receive either drug/drug combination. All children recovered clinically. Fever clearance times were similar. Parasite clearance was significantly faster with AMQ...

Mefloquine hydrochloride [WR 142,490; alpha-(2-piperidyl)-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinemethanol hydrochloride] was tested for suppressive effect on sporozoite-induced malaria in nonimmune volunteers living in an area where malaria is not naturally transmitted. Single doses of 250 mg were given at weekly intervals, 500 mg at intervals of 2 weeks and 1,000 mg at intervals of 4 weeks, to me...

Here we report the synthesis of all four stereoisomers of mefloquine. Mefloquine (Lariam) is an important anti-malaria drug that is applied as a racemate of the erythro form. However, the (-)-isomer induces psychosis, while the (+)-enantiomer does not have this undesired side effect. There are six syntheses of which five lead to the wrong enantiomer without the authors of these syntheses noting...

A 32-year-old male developed neuropsychiatric symptoms 2 weeks after starting mefloquine 250 mg/week for malaria prophylaxis. He continued to take the medication for the next 4 months. Initial symptoms included vivid dreams and anxiety, as well as balance problems. These symptoms persisted and progressed over the next 4 years to include vertigo, emotional lability, and poor short-term memory, w...

Recent studies of military personnel who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have reported a number of combat-related psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury. This case report involves a 27-year-old male active-duty US military service member who developed severe depression, psychotic hallucinations, and neuropsychological sequelae f...

The efficacy and safety of Artecom were assessed in an open randomized trial in adults presenting with acute, uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Thailand. Three hundred and fifty-two patients were randomly enroled at the ratio of 2: 1 into group A:B and received Artecom (group A) and the standard combination of artesunate and mefloquine (group B) respectively. All patients had rapid...

The in vitro activities of dihydroartemisinin (the biologically active metabolite of artemisinin derivatives), chloroquine, monodesethylamodiaquine (the biologically active metabolite of amodiaquine), quinine, mefloquine, halofantrine, and pyrimethamine were assessed in 65 African isolates of Plasmodium falciparum from Yaounde, Cameroon using an isotopic microtest. The 50% inhibitory concentrat...