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Online doctor

All it takes is three simple steps...

Step 1 Register online to create your secure online patient record

Step 2 Answer short questionnaire and make card payment for malaria pills

Step 3 Pick-up the malaria pills in your chosen pharmacy or await delivery

Same day in-pharmacy pickup

or

Next day home delivery

Malaria pill service (doxycycline)

This service makes it as convenient as possible for you to obtain a sufficient number of malaria pills to cover you for a 22-28 day trip to a malaria area where doxycycline is recommended.

How to take the tablets

You need to take one 100mg capsule a day. To help prevent heartburn you should take the capsule with a full glass of water and preferably when standing up. The capsule should be swallowed whole and not chewed. Start taking the doxycycline capsules two days before entering the malaria area and then continue every day until four weeks after leaving the area.

Effectiveness and limitations

Doxycycline is generally effective at preventing malaria so long as you complete the full course. But this malaria pill does not guarantee protection from malaria so it is essential that you take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes in the first place. Information on how to avoid being bitten will accompany any malaria pills we send you.

Possible side-effects

Most people who take doxycycline find it causes no problems. However doxycycline can cause side-effects in some people such as nausea, diarrhoea, candida infection, a sore tongue and, more rarely, inflammation of the liver or bowel. For a full list of the potential side-effects, see the Patient Information Leaflet included with the medicine itself.

Other considerations

Doxycycline can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. This makes it especially important that you use appropriate suncream if you plan on spending time in the sun. Doxycycline can also reduce the effectiveness of the oral contraceptive pill so continue taking your pill as usual but use condoms while taking doxycycline and for seven days afterwards.

Drinking alcohol

You can drink alcohol in moderation when taking these malaria pills.

Alternative malaria pills

Depending upon where you are travelling, alternative malaria medicines may also be suitable. Visit the website www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk for detailed up-to-date information about your other treatment options.

Travel vaccines

Make sure you have had the appropriate travel vaccines relevant for where you are travelling. When our doctors assess your suitablity for the malaria pills you are requesting they will upload detailed information about the travel vaccinations you need into your confidential online patient record.