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Doxycycline...
Some people prefer to take a daily medicine
Good for last-minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
Tends to be the least expensive antimalarial
Some people are already taking doxycycline chronically for prevention of acne. In those instances, they do not have to take an additional medicine
Doxycycline also can prevent some additional infections (e.g., Rickettsiae and leptospirosis) and so it may be preferred by people planning to do lots of hiking, camping, and wading and swimming in fresh water
Cannot be used by pregnant women and children <8 years old
Some people would rather not take a medicine every day
For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
Women prone to getting vaginal yeast infections when taking antibiotics may prefer taking a different medicine
Persons planning on considerable sun exposure may want to avoid the increased risk of sun sensitivity
Some people are concerned about the potential of getting an upset stomach from doxycycline
Doxycycline
Doxycycline prophylaxis should begin 1–2 days before travel to malarious areas. It should be continued once a day, at the same time each day, during travel in malarious areas and daily for 4 weeks after the traveler leaves such areas. Insufficient data exist on the antimalarial prophylactic efficacy of related compounds such as minocycline (commonly prescribed for the treatment of acne). People on a long-term regimen of minocycline who need malaria prophylaxis should stop taking minocycline 1–2 days before travel and start doxycycline instead. Minocycline can be restarted after the full course of doxycycline is completed (see Table 3-11 for recommended dosages).
Doxycycline can cause photosensitivity, usually manifested as an exaggerated sunburn reaction. The risk for such a reaction can be minimized by avoiding prolonged, direct exposure to the sun and by using sunscreen. In addition, doxycycline use is associated with an increased frequency of vaginal yeast infections. Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea or vomiting) may be minimized by taking the drug with a meal or by specifically prescribing doxycycline monohydrate or the enteric-coated doxycycline hyclate, rather than the generic doxycycline hyclate, which is often less expensive. To reduce the risk for esophagitis, travelers should be advised not to take doxycycline before going to bed. Doxycycline is contraindicated in people with an allergy to tetracyclines, during pregnancy, and in infants and children aged <8 years. Vaccination with the oral typhoid vaccine Ty21a should be delayed for ≥24 hours after taking a dose of doxycycline.
Atovaguone... is expensive but is well tolerated
Chloroquine...needs to be started early...and some areas are resistant to it
Mefloquine...needs to be started early...and can cause some people to have psychological episodes...
Primaquine...Some tests are needed before taking...
