Definition

1. Noun:
   • An antimalarial drug: A pharmaceutical compound used to prevent and treat malaria, particularly effective against strains resistant to other medications like chloroquine. It is known commercially under the trade names Larium and Mephaquine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed mefloquine hydrochloride for the traveler's malaria prophylaxis.
  • Due to reported side effects, the use of mefloquine hydrochloride requires careful medical evaluation.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: The term is used in medical and pharmacological discussions concerning drug-resistant malaria.
  • The treatment protocol includes mefloquine hydrochloride for cases of falciparum malaria unresponsive to first-line agents.

Variants and Related Words

• Mefloquine (n): The base name of the drug, often used interchangeably in non-technical contexts.
  • Mefloquine is a common component of malaria prevention kits.
• Larium (n): A primary brand name for mefloquine hydrochloride.
• Mephaquine (n): Another brand name for the same compound.

Synonyms

• Antimalarial agent: A general term for any drug used against malaria.
• Antiprotozoal drug: A broader class of drugs effective against protozoan infections, including malaria.

Notes on Meaning

• This term specifically refers to the hydrochloride salt form of the drug mefloquine, which is the formulation used in medication. It is distinguished by its association with specific neurological and psychiatric side effects, which are a significant point of discussion in its usage.

Noun

1. an antimalarial drug (trade name Larium and Mephaquine) that is effective in cases that do not respond to chloroquine; said to produce harmful neuropsychiatric effects on some people