mefloquine
Noun: 1. A synthetic antimalarial medication: Mefloquine is a pharmaceutical drug used to prevent and treat malaria, particularly strains of the parasite that are resistant to other medications like chloroquine. It is known to potentially cause serious side effects in some individuals.
Mefloquine is used specifically in the context of malaria prophylaxis and treatment. It is a prescription medication. - The doctor prescribed mefloquine for my trip to a region with chloroquine-resistant malaria. - Due to its potential side effects, mefloquine is not the first-choice drug for all travelers.
- Noun:
- Travelers are advised to start taking mefloquine several weeks before departure to assess tolerance.
- The use of mefloquine has declined in some countries due to concerns about its neurological side effects.
- "to be on mefloquine": to be using mefloquine as a preventive medication.
- She was on mefloquine for the entire six-month deployment.
- Lariam®: A common brand name for mefloquine.
- Lariam® is a well-known trade name for mefloquine.
- Mephaquine®: Another brand name for the drug.
- Antimalarial (adj/n): A general term for drugs that prevent or treat malaria. Mefloquine is one type of antimalarial.
- Antimalarial drug/agent: A substance that acts against malaria parasites.
- Prophylactic (in medical context): A medicine or course of action used to prevent disease.
The definition highlights two key aspects of mefloquine: 1. Its primary medical use: effectiveness against chloroquine-resistant malaria. 2. A significant associated risk: the potential to cause harmful neuropsychiatric effects (e.g., dizziness, anxiety, vivid dreams, depression, or psychosis) in some people. This risk profile is a critical part of understanding the word in a medical context.
- 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