How to Choose the Right Anti Malaria Tablets for My Travels — Advice for Hounslow Travellers

Choosing the right anti malaria tablets depends on a number of factors, including your destination, the duration of your trip, your personal medical history, and your budget. There is no single antimalarial medication that suits every traveller — what works well for one person may be unsuitable or less effective for another. The most commonly prescribed options in the UK are atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine (Lariam), each with its own advantages, side effect profile, and suitability criteria. The best way to make the right choice is to speak with a qualified travel health professional, and at Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow, our team provides expert, personalised malaria prevention advice to ensure you travel safely and with complete peace of mind.

The Risks of Malaria

Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is prevalent across large parts of sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and parts of the Middle East and Oceania. According to the WHO World Malaria Report 2023, there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria globally in 2022, resulting in approximately 608,000 deaths.

For travellers from the UK, malaria presents a very real risk when visiting endemic regions, as they have no natural immunity to the disease. Unlike many travel illnesses, malaria can deteriorate rapidly, particularly the most dangerous form caused by Plasmodium falciparum, which is predominant in sub-Saharan Africa. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential, but prevention remains the most effective strategy — and that begins with choosing the right anti malaria tablets before you travel.

Which Anti Malaria Tablets are Available in the UK?

There are three main antimalarial medications routinely prescribed for UK travellers. Each works differently, is taken on a different schedule, and carries its own set of potential side effects and contraindications. Understanding the differences between them is the first step towards making the right choice for your trip.

How Do I Choose the Right Anti Malaria Tablets for My Trip?

Selecting the most appropriate antimalarial medication is not something you should attempt without professional guidance. Several important factors will influence which option is right for you, and a trained travel health pharmacist will work through each of these during your consultation.

Your Destination

Different regions carry different species of malaria parasite, and drug resistance patterns vary significantly from country to country. For example, doxycycline and Malarone are both effective across most of sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, while the situation in Central America and parts of the Middle East may allow for different options. Your pharmacist will consult up-to-date country-specific guidance to identify the most appropriate medication for your exact destination.

Length of Trip

The duration of your travel matters significantly when choosing an antimalarial. Malarone is often preferred for shorter trips due to its convenience and tolerability, but its cost can become prohibitive over extended periods. Doxycycline tends to be a more economical option for longer trips, while mefloquine’s weekly dosing schedule makes it popular for prolonged stays in remote areas.

Your Medical History and Current Medications

Certain antimalarials are contraindicated for people with specific medical conditions or those taking particular medications. Mefloquine should be avoided by anyone with a history of mental health conditions, while doxycycline is unsuitable for pregnant women and young children. If you are taking any regular medications, it is essential to discuss potential interactions with your pharmacist before starting any antimalarial course.

Anti Malaria Tablets Are Not Enough on Their Own

It is important to understand that no antimalarial medication offers 100% protection against malaria. Even when taken correctly, anti malaria tablets significantly reduce — but do not eliminate — the risk of infection. This is why insect bite avoidance measures are an equally critical part of any malaria prevention strategy.

When travelling in malaria-endemic regions, you should apply a DEET-based insect repellent to exposed skin, wear loose-fitting long-sleeved clothing and long trousers — especially during dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active, sleep under a permethrin-treated mosquito net, and use air conditioning or mosquito screens where available. The combination of antimalarial medication and consistent bite avoidance provides the strongest possible protection against this serious disease.

Of course, malaria prevention is just one part of staying healthy abroad.  Depending on where you are travelling, you may also need a course of travel vaccinations to protect against other serious diseases.  Enter your destination below to get a quick overview of the vaccinations that may be recommended for your trip:

Recognising Malaria Symptoms After Travel

Even if you have taken anti malaria tablets as prescribed, it is still possible to contract malaria, which is why knowing the symptoms is vital. Malaria typically causes a high fever, chills, sweats, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue. Symptoms can appear anywhere from a week to several months after returning from a malaria-endemic region, so it is essential to seek urgent medical attention if you develop a fever within a year of returning from a high-risk area and inform the doctor of your travel history. Early treatment is critical and can be life-saving.

Call us to speak to our expert travel health team at Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow before you travel and get the personalised malaria prevention advice you need.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our travel health team at Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow has put together answers to the most common questions we receive about anti malaria tablets.

Do I definitely need anti malaria tablets for my destination?

Whether you need antimalarial medication depends entirely on your destination — not all countries carry a malaria risk, and within malaria-endemic countries, the risk can vary significantly between regions. The best way to find out is to book a travel health consultation at Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow, where our pharmacists will check the latest country-specific guidance for your exact itinerary.

When should I start taking anti malaria tablets?

The start date depends on which antimalarial you are prescribed. Malarone and doxycycline should be started one to two days before entering a malaria-risk area, while mefloquine needs to be started two to three weeks before travel to check for any side effects before you depart. Your pharmacist will provide clear instructions on timing when your medication is dispensed.

How long do I need to take anti malaria tablets after returning home?

This varies by medication — Malarone must be continued for seven days after leaving the malaria-risk area, while doxycycline and mefloquine must be taken for four weeks after your return. Completing the full course after travel is just as important as taking the tablets while you are away, as the medication continues to protect against any parasites that may have entered your bloodstream.

Can I get anti malaria tablets over the counter without a prescription?

Chloroquine and proguanil are available over the counter in the UK, but Malarone, doxycycline, and mefloquine all require a prescription. At Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow, our pharmacists can provide a private prescription following a travel health consultation, meaning you can obtain your medication quickly and conveniently without needing to visit your GP.

Are anti malaria tablets safe during pregnancy?

Malaria poses a particularly serious risk during pregnancy, and ideally travel to high-risk regions should be avoided if possible. If travel is unavoidable, certain antimalarials may be suitable depending on the trimester — specialist advice from a healthcare professional is essential, as some options such as doxycycline and mefloquine are not recommended during pregnancy.

What should I do if I develop a fever after returning from a malaria-risk area?

If you develop a fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms within a year of returning from a malaria-endemic region, you should seek urgent medical attention immediately and inform the doctor or triage team of your travel history. Malaria can deteriorate rapidly if left untreated, and early diagnosis is critical — do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.

Anti malaria tablets are not a one-size-fits-all solution, and choosing the right option for your trip is a decision that could genuinely protect your life while you are abroad. With the right medication, taken correctly and combined with consistent insect bite avoidance, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting this potentially life-threatening disease and focus on enjoying your travels. At Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow, our experienced travel health team is here to guide you through every aspect of malaria prevention, from selecting the right antimalarial to advising on repellents, clothing, and what to do if you become unwell after you return.

Don’t take chances with your health when expert guidance is so readily available. Book your malaria prevention consultation at Jasins Pharmacy in Hounslow today and travel to your destination knowing you have expert protection behind you.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical advice. Always consult a qualified medical professional, pharmacist, or GP before starting any antimalarial medication, vaccination course, or travel health programme — particularly if you have underlying health conditions, are pregnant, or are taking regular medication.