According to Roll Back Malaria, mefloquine and amodiaquine are drugs used to treat or suppress malaria. Similar to the action of chloroquines, amodiaquine influences hemoglobin digestion, preventing the malaria-causing parasite from digesting hemoglobin. It acts on all the stages of plasmodium and interferes with the production of nucleoproteins by the parasite. Mefloquine, also known as Lariam, affects all stages of malaria parasite replication. Like all medications, these drugs can have side effects.
Gastric Disturbances
Roll Back Malaria reports that side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, and epigastric distress are occasional side effects of amodiaquine. These may occur even if the patient has taken only the required therapeutic dose. Patients taking mefloquine can also experience nausea and vomiting, according to Kids Health. They advise that these side effects can be alleviated if patients take smaller meals frequently.
Visual Disturbances
According to Crusade Against Malaria, prolonged use of amodiaquine as treatment for malaria can cause visual disturbances, such as corneal deposits that can lead to retinopathy and eventual loss of vision. The skin, fingernails, and hard palate may also develop bluish-green pigmentation, though this can go away after amodiaquine therapy is completed or patients quit taking the medication. Retinopathy, or damage to the retinas of the eyes, can be irreversible, however, which means that even when a patient stops taking amodiaquine, damage to the eyes may be permanent. This is why a patient taking amodiaquine should have regular eye check-ups, especially if the drug is being used over a long period of time. Patients taking mefloquine can also experience blurred vision according to Kids Health. It is recommended that individuals avoid activities where clear vision or alertness is required. This may include driving or jobs where alertness is needed.
Blood Disorders and Neuropsychiatric Events
Crusade Against Malaria also reports that agranulocytosis and other blood dyscrasias can occur in people taking amodiaquine. Agranulocytosis is a condition in which the white blood cells, specifically the neutrophils, are severely diminished, making a person prone to developing infections. Blood dyscrasias are problems involving the organs that produce blood, such as the bone marrow, spleen, and liver. Hepatitis can be another side effect of amodiaquine use. Indiana University reports that mefloquine is known especially for its effects on the brain, resulting in neuropsychiatric problems. This can result in some rare but serious side effects such as convulsions, hallucinations and headaches, which can impair a person's quality of life even months after the last dose of mefloquine is taken.
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