Mefloquine

Mefloquine, sold under the brand name Lariam among others, is a medication used to prevent or treat malaria. When used for prevention it is typically started before potential exposure and continued for several weeks after potential exposure. It can be used to treat mild or moderate malaria but is not recommended for severe malaria. It is taken by mouth.

Mefloquine
Clinical data
Trade namesLariam, Mephaquin, Mefliam, others
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa603030
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration		By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismExtensive liver; main metabolite is inactive
Elimination half-life2 to 4 weeks
ExcretionPrimarily bile and feces; urine (9% as unchanged drug, 4% as primary metabolite)
Identifiers
  • [(R*,S*)-2,8-Bis(trifluoromethyl)quinolin-4-yl]-(2-piperidyl)methanol
CAS Number
PubChem CID
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC17H16F6N2O
Molar mass378.318 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
ChiralityRacemic mixture
  • FC(F)(F)c2cccc1c(cc(nc12)C(F)(F)F)[C@H](O)[C@@H]3NCCCC3
  • InChI=1S/C17H16F6N2O/c18-16(19,20)11-5-3-4-9-10(15(26)12-6-1-2-7-24-12)8-13(17(21,22)23)25-14(9)11/h3-5,8,12,15,24,26H,1-2,6-7H2/t12-,15+/m1/s1 Y
  • Key:XEEQGYMUWCZPDN-DOMZBBRYSA-N Y
 NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, sleep disorders, and a rash. Serious side effects include potentially long-term mental health problems such as depression, hallucinations, and anxiety and neurological side effects such as poor balance, seizures, and ringing in the ears. It is therefore not recommended in people with a history of mental health problems or epilepsy. It appears to be safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Mefloquine was developed by the United States Army in the 1970s and came into use in the mid-1980s. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication.

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