What is Maloff Protect?
Maloff Protect are anti-malaria tablets that can help to keep you from catching malaria if you’re travelling to an area with a high risk of disease. If you’re travelling to a malaria zone and are worried about staying safe from mosquito bites, Maloff protect can help to keep you safe from malaria for your entire stay, and when you return home.
What is malaria?
Malaria is a tropical disease that can be deadly if left untreated. It’s spread by mosquitos and is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which enters your bloodstream and infects you with the disease. If you have caught malaria you will usually start to experience symptoms within 7 – 18 days, although some people can have the disease in their system for up to a year without experiencing any symptoms. The most common symptoms of malaria include:
- A high temperature of 38 degrees C or above
- Feeling hot and shivery
- Headaches
- Being sick
- Muscular pain
- Diarrhoea
How will the atovaquone and proguanil in Maloff Protect help to prevent malaria?
Maloff Protect tablets contain two active ingredients which work as antimalarials, 250mg of atovaquone and 100mg of proguanil hydrochloride. These ingredients work together to tackle the Plasmodium parasite when it enters your bloodstream, effectively keeping it from giving you malaria.
What else can I do to prevent malaria?
Although anti-malaria tablets like Maloff protect can help to protect you from getting malaria, there are other precautions you can take to reduce the likelihood of mosquito bites in the first place. For starters, make sure to use an effective insect repellent on all areas of exposed skin, and make sure that as much of your body as possible is covered by clothing. When you go to sleep, make sure you sleep beneath a mosquito net and close any doors or windows that do not have insect screens attached to them. Mosquitos are less active in cooler temperatures, so sleeping with an air conditioner or fan on can help to keep the bugs at bay, and you can also consider using an insecticide to clear away any insects that get into your room.
Can I take these anti-malaria tablets if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
You should not take Maloff Protect if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or think you may become pregnant. This medication may not be suitable for you or your baby at this time. Also, we do not recommend travelling to a malaria zone if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding unless it is absolutely essential, as both you and your child could be at risk of catching the disease.
Can I take this product if I’m taking other medication?
If you’re taking any other medication, including herbal remedies and medicines obtained without a prescription, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Maloff Protect. Do not take these tablets if you are already taking:
- Etoposide, which is used to treat cancer
- Metoclopramide, which is used to treat nausea and vomiting
- Tetracycline, rifampicin, or rifabutin, which are antibiotics
- Indinavir, efavirenz, zidovudine, or any medications known as protease inhibitors, which are used to treat HIV
- Warfarin, other coumarin based anticoagulants, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) e.g. dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, apixaban
Can I drive after taking these tablets?
You may feel dizzy after taking Maloff Protect tablets. If this happens to you, you should not attempt to drive or use any tools or machinery until you are absolutely certain that you are safe to do so.
Are Maloff Protect and Malarone antimalarial tablets the same thing?
Maloff Protect and Malarone tablets contain the same active ingredients, atovaquone and proguanil, in the same amounts. This means that they are essentially the same thing, as they work in the same way. The only difference is that Maloff Protect tablets are available over the counter from pharmacies, whereas Malarone tablets are only available on prescription.
How to take these tablets
Take one Maloff Protect tablet every day, at the same time every day, starting one or two days before you are due to travel to a malaria zone. Continue taking these tablets for the duration of your stay and then continue taking them for another 7 days after you return to a malaria-free place. For best results, take each tablet with food or a milky drink, as this will help your body to absorb the ingredients.
What if I miss a dose?
If you forget to take a dose of Maloff Protect, take your tablet as soon as you remember to and then continue your treatment as you were before. Do not take a double dose to make up for missing a dose, you should not take more than one tablet at a time. The only time you should ever take a second Maloff Protect tablet in one day is if you vomit within an hour of taking your first tablet, as the ingredients will not have entered your system properly within that time.
When should this product not be used?
Maloff Protect tablets are not suitable for children under the age of 18 or those who weigh less than 40kg or 6.3 stones. Do not take this product if you are allergic to atovaquone, proguanil, or any of the other listed ingredients. Do not take this product if you have:
- Liver or kidney disease
- Ever had epilepsy, convulsions, or fits
- Depression
- Tuberculosis
Does Maloff Protect have any side effects?
Like all medications, Maloff Protect can have side effects, although not everyone will experience them. If you experience any of the following side effects you may be having a severe allergic reaction or skin reaction, stop use and seek immediate medical help:
- Rash and itching
- Sudden wheezing, tightness of the chest or throat, difficulty breathing
- Swollen eyelids, face, lips, tongue, etc.
- Skin rash, which may blister and form small dark spots surrounded by a ring which look like targets
- A severe widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the nose, mouth, eyes, and genitals
Other common side effects you may experience include:
- Headaches
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Sleeping problems or insomnia
- Strange dreams
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Rash
- Cough
- Allergic reactions
- Itching
- Anaemia, which can cause tiredness, headaches, and shortness of breath
- Reduced numbers of white blood cells, which can make you more likely to catch infections
- Low levels of sodium in the blood
- An increase in liver enzymes
For a complete list of potential symptoms of this product, please see the patient information leaflet included. If you experience these or any other side effects while using this product, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. For more information about reporting the side effects of medication, please see the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme.
How to store this product
Store in a cool, dry place. Do not use this product if the expiry date printed on the original packaging has passed. Keep out of sight and reach of children.
Important information
This product is a medicine; make sure to speak to your doctor or Chemist 4 U pharmacist before taking this product if you have an underlying medical problem or are taking any other medicine or complementary therapy. If your symptoms get worse or continue after taking this product, contact us or your doctor. For medical services in your area, please refer to https://www.nhs.uk
If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or our pharmacist before taking this product. If you suffer from any allergies, ask your doctor or our pharmacist if this medicine is right for you.
Store all medicines out of sight and reach of children.
Please read the included leaflet carefully before using this product.
Please contact your GP if appropriate regarding this product.
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For further information on our medication restrictions policy, please click here
If you are concerned about addiction of 'over the counter' medication we urge you to visit the below links for professional help and advice
Active Ingredients
- Atovaquone, Proguanil
Ingredients
The active substances are atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 250 mg atovaquone and 100 mg proguanil hydrochloride.
The other ingredients are: Core Poloxamer 188, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Low-substituted Hydroxypropyl Cellulose, Povidone K30, Sodium Starch Glycolate Type A, Silica Colloidal anhydrous, Magnesium Stearate Coating Hypromellose, Titanium Dioxide (E171), Iron Oxide Red (E172), Macrogol 400, Macrogol 8000
Product Data
Can I Take My Medication With Me On Holiday?
At what age can children take this and would it help against being bitten here?
Maloff Protect is used to prevent malaria. It is available from the pharmacy for adults. It is not suitable for use in children or adolescents unless it has been prescribed for them by a doctor. If you are under 18 and you are visiting an area where there is malaria, talk to your doctor.
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