Navy casts doubt on malaria drug
THE Ministry of Defence was under pressure to abandon its use of the controversial antimalaria drug Lariam last night after a Royal Navy study confirmed half the troops who take it suffer an adverse reaction.
Navy rethink their position on anti-malaria drug Larium
The figures emerged days before MPs begin an inquiry into the MoD’s use of the drug following complaints by hundreds of veterans of permanent, often life-changing side effects.
The Sunday Express can also reveal that a national pharmacy chain, Lloyds, has barred its medical experts from prescribing the drug because of its “unpredictable side effects”.
In the recent study, published in the Journal of the Royal Navy Medical Service, military doctors reveal that more than half of 111 troops given Lariam reported adverse reactions.
Worryingly, this figure rose to 100 per cent in women. More than one in 10 were forced to stop taking the drug and switch to a more expensive alternative.
Malaria - The Facts
A study confirmed that the drug had negative effects
There was a higher rate of adverse events reported among deployed military personnel than has been reported among civilian patients
Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Marriott, who has suffered from dizziness, vivid and unpleasant dreams, memory loss and problems with anger management since being given Lariam in Sierra Leone in 2003, said: “This study shows that the MoD is all too aware of the risks it is running by its stubborn refusal to ban this drug for troops.
“It contradicts claims made by the surgeon general. Either he is unaware of the truth, which is inexcusable, or it would seem he is turning a blind eye.
“I’m not surprised by Lloyds’ decision at all. The legal ramifications of prescribing Lariam without following strict guidelines, which include a full screening of patients for mental health issues, is immense.”
The MoD claims that it uses Lariam because it is sanctioned for civilians by Public Health England and “soldiers are just people”.
However, the study rejected this, concluding: “There was a higher rate of adverse events reported among deployed military personnel than has been reported among civilian patients. This may be partly due to the stressful environment in which deployed personnel operate.”
Ministry of Defence
The MoD continues to issue Lariam to soldiers serving below the equator, despite other nations such as the United States, Canada, France and Norway ditching it except as a last resort, where other antimalaria drugs are unsuitable.
There are fears that commanders have not been screening individual soldiers before issuing the drug.
Lariam can cause neurotoxic poisoning for those with mental health conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder, who are more susceptible to its side effects.
More than half the 111 troops given Larium experienced adverse reactions
Experts say troops should not be considered in the same way as civilians because they are more prone to traumatic experiences and often do not report signs of mental stress to superiors.
A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesman said: “Due to the various and unpredictable side effects associated with Lariam, and the possible interactions with other medicines, we have chosen to withdraw our Lariam service.” The chain will continue to honour GP prescriptions.