Atovaquone and Proguanil (Maloff Protect)

Atovaquone and proguanil tablets are an antimalarial medication that is used to prevent malaria. This combination tablet contains the active ingredients atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, which work together to protect against malaria.

Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes that is passed into your bloodstream through bites. Atovaquone and proguanil help to prevent malaria by stopping the parasite from multiplying in your body.

Atovaquone and proguanil tablets work to prevent malaria by targeting and killing the parasite that causes malaria. It blocks an enzyme called dihydrofolate, which helps to stop the malaria parasite from reproducing. Atovaquone and proguanil tablets also help to reduce the likelihood of medication resistance.

When used to prevent malaria, atovaquone and proguanil will continue to work for as long as you take it, but must be taken exactly as prescribed.

How long do atovaquone and proguanil tablets take to work?

Maloff malaria tablets start to work immediately, but need at least 1 day to be fully effective. That’s why you should start taking the tablets 1 to 2 days before travelling and continue to take the medication for 7 days after you have left the area to make sure you are fully protected.

How effective are atovaquone and proguanil tablets?

Atovaquone and proguanil tablets have been shown to be more than 95% effective at preventing malaria. However, if you get symptoms of malaria, such as a fever, within a year of travel and especially within the 3 months post-travel, you should speak to a doctor straight away.

Combining Maloff tablets with other malaria prevention methods, such as mosquito repellents and bed nets, can help to reduce your risk of malaria further.

One atovaquone and proguanil tablet should be taken at the same time each day with food or a milky drink. You should:

1. Start taking Maloff Protect 1 to 2 days before arriving in an area with malaria.
2. Continue to take 1 tablet at the same time every day for the duration of your stay.
3. Keep taking the tablets for 7 days after you return to a malaria-free area.

You should make sure that you take the full course of tablets as instructed for optimal effectiveness.

If you forget to take your tablet, take it as soon as you remember and continue to take the rest as usual.

If you are taking Maloff Protect tablets, there is a possibility you may experience some side effects. The most common side effects (affecting more than 1 in 10 people) include:

• headaches
• feeling or being sick (nausea and vomiting)
• stomach pain
• diarrhoea

Less common side effects (affecting up to 1 in 10 people) can include:

• dizziness
• sleeping problems (insomnia)
• strange dreams
• depression
• loss of appetite
• fever
• rash or itching
• cough

Uncommon side effects (affecting up to 1 in 100 people) include:

• anxiety
• an unusual awareness of abnormal beating of the heart (palpitations)
• swelling and redness of the mouth
• red swollen patches on the skin (hives)
• hair loss

In rare cases (affecting up to 1 in 1000 people), you may see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations).

If you experience an allergic reaction while taking atovaquone and proguanil tablets, call 999 and seek emergency medical attention immediately. An allergic reaction looks like:

• swollen eyelids, face, lips, tongue, or mouth
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• a rash with raised bumps
• tightness in your throat or chest

For more information on Maloff Protect side effects, you can look at the patient information leaflet.

How long do atovaquone and proguanil side effects last?

Most side effects are mild and pass quickly as your body gets used to the medication, but this may vary from person to person.

What to do if you get atovaquone and proguanil tablets side effects

Many side effects of Maloff Protect can be managed at home. You can treat:

• headaches, dizziness and vomiting, by staying hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or paracetamol
• stomach pain, by using over-the-counter pain medication like paracetamol, applying a warm compress or hot water bottle, and staying hydrated
• diarrhoea, by eating low-fibre, bland foods, avoiding fruit juice and fizzy drinks, or speaking with a pharmacist who can recommend oral rehydration powder or anti-diarrhoea medication

If you are experiencing side effects that are difficult to manage, you should speak with your doctor or a pharmacist who can give you advice on what to do next. If you have severe or persistent side effects, speak to a doctor straight away.

Maloff Protect may not be suitable for everyone, including people with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications. You should not take Maloff Protect if you are allergic to atovaquone or proguanil hydrochloride, or any other ingredients in them.

You should speak with a doctor or pharmacist before taking Maloff Protect if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• are under 18 years old
• weigh less than 40kg

Medical conditions

You should not take Maloff Protect if you have kidney or liver problems. Speak to your doctor before taking Maloff Protect if you have:

• ever had epilepsy, convulsions, or fits
• depression
• tuberculosis

Medications

Some medications can react with Maloff Protect and make it less effective or possibly unsafe. You should not take Maloff Protect if you are already taking:

• etoposide, used to treat cancer
• metoclopramide, used to treat nausea and vomiting
• the antibiotics tetracycline, rifampicin, or rifabutin
• HIV treatments such as indinavir, efavirenz, zidovudine, or protease inhibitors
• anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin, dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, and apixaban

Atovaquone and proguanil tablets can be purchased online from a trusted pharmacy and are also available on the NHS through secondary care services or over the counter.

Can I buy Maloff Protect online?

Yes, you can request Maloff Protect online from Asda Online Doctor. To buy with us online, you will need to:

1. Complete a short online health assessment for one of our doctors to review.
2. Place your order.
3. If approved, your order will be dispatched and sent to your home address in discreet packaging, or you can choose to collect it from your local Asda Pharmacy 4 hours after a doctor’s approval.
4. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with alternative treatment options.

Obtaining your medication from us is a quick and convenient process, taking the stress out of making sure you are protected for your upcoming trip. There’s no need for a face-to-face appointment, so there’s no delay and no need to leave your home, so you can continue with that all-important packing and planning.

Can I buy atovaquone and proguanil tablets over the counter?

Yes, you can buy Maloff Protect over-the-counter from pharmacies. A pharmacist will ask you some questions to ensure it’s suitable for you.

Can I get atovaquone and proguanil tablets on the NHS?

No, atovaquone and proguanil tablets are not usually available on the NHS, but they are available on a private prescription. However, malaria treatment is available on the NHS.

Atovaquone and proguanil tablets are a generic treatment. Branded versions include Maloff Protect and Malarone tablets, which are the same medication but with different manufacturers. This may mean some of the non-active ingredients are different, and prices are likely to differ too.

If atovaquone and proguanil tablets are not suitable for you or the area you’re travelling to, an alternative malaria tablet available from Asda Online Doctor is doxycycline capsules.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that belongs to a group of medications called tetracyclines. This medication is taken 1 to 2 days before you leave, continued throughout your trip, and then taken for 28 days after you return.