Maloff Protect 250mg/100mg tablets contain atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride, an antimalarial combination taken to prevent Plasmodium falciparum malaria in adults travelling to areas where malaria occurs. Available in 24-tablet and 36-tablet packs, sold by Ways Pharmacy (UK).
This is a pharmacy (P) medicine sold under the supervision of our GPhC-registered pharmacist. You may be asked a few short questions before your order is supplied.
Key facts
| Active ingredients | Atovaquone 250mg and proguanil hydrochloride 100mg per film-coated tablet |
|---|---|
| Format | Film-coated tablets marked ‘404’ on one side and ‘G’ on the other |
| Use | Prevention (chemoprophylaxis) of Plasmodium falciparum malaria |
| Age | Adults aged 18 and over, weighing 40kg or more |
| Dose | One tablet once a day at the same time each day, with food or a milky drink where possible |
| Course | Start 1 to 2 days before travel, continue every day during your stay, then for a further 7 days after you return |
| Pack | 24 tablets or 36 tablets |
| Storage | No special storage conditions |
Who it is for
- Adults aged 18 and over travelling to an area where falciparum malaria occurs, who have checked that atovaquone with proguanil suits their destination.
- Travellers who want a once-daily tablet started shortly before departure and continued for seven days after returning.
- People buying antimalarial tablets from a pharmacy rather than on prescription; our pharmacist will ask about your destination, medicines and health first.
Not suitable for: Do not take Maloff Protect if you are allergic to atovaquone, proguanil hydrochloride or any other ingredient, or if you have kidney disease or liver disease. Do not take it unless a doctor or other qualified prescriber has prescribed it for you if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are breastfeeding, are under 18 or weigh less than 40kg, have ever had epilepsy, convulsions or fits, have depression, or have tuberculosis. Do not take it if you already take etoposide, metoclopramide, tetracycline, rifampicin, rifabutin, indinavir, efavirenz, zidovudine or a protease inhibitor for HIV, warfarin or another coumarin anticoagulant, or an anticoagulant such as dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban or apixaban.
How to use
- Read the label and Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) before use. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist whether Maloff Protect is suitable for the part of the world you are visiting.
- Adults: swallow one tablet whole once a day, at the same time each day, with food or a milky drink where possible. Do not crush the tablets.
- Start 1 to 2 days before you travel to an area which has malaria, and keep taking one tablet every day during your stay.
- Continue for a further 7 days after you return to a malaria-free area so that the full course is completed.
- If you are sick (vomit) within one hour of taking a tablet, take another dose straight away. If you vomit more than an hour afterwards, wait until your next dose is due.
- If you forget a dose, take the next one as soon as you remember and then carry on as before. Do not take a double dose.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablets will I need for my trip?
Count 1 to 2 days before travel, one tablet for every day of your stay, and 7 days after you get back. A 14-day trip therefore needs about 22 to 23 tablets. Our pharmacist can check the count with you.
Do I still need to avoid mosquito bites?
Yes. No antimalarial removes the risk completely. Use insect repellent on exposed skin, cover up after sunset, and sleep under a mosquito net or in a screened or air-conditioned room.
Can children take Maloff Protect?
Not without a prescription. It is available from the pharmacy for adults only and is not suitable for children or adolescents, or anyone weighing less than 40kg, unless a doctor has prescribed it.
Can I take it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Not unless your doctor tells you to. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about antimalarial options if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are breastfeeding.
What are the most common side effects?
Headache, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhoea affect more than 1 in 10 people. Dizziness, insomnia, strange dreams, low mood, loss of appetite, fever, rash, cough and itching are common. The leaflet lists them all.
Could I still get malaria after taking it?
Yes, it is still possible. Symptoms can start days, weeks or months after you return. See a doctor immediately if you get a high temperature, headache, tiredness, sweats and chills or vomiting, and tell them you have visited a malaria area.
Safety and storage
- Take the full course. Stopping early leaves you at risk, because it takes seven days to kill any parasites that may already be in your blood.
- Maloff Protect makes some people feel dizzy. Do not drive or use machines if you are affected.
- Stop taking it and contact a doctor immediately if you get signs of a severe allergic reaction, or a severe skin reaction with blistering or peeling.
- No special storage conditions are needed. Do not use after the expiry date printed on the carton and blister.
- Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
- Read the PIL. Report suspected side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
This is a medicine. Always read the label and the Patient Information Leaflet before use. If symptoms persist, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
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