I am lucky, my SLE is mild and diagnosed 6 months ago with no organ issues. My body seems to be responding well to my medications (daily 3mg Zamen a deflazacort based steroid, Plaquinol 400mg and weekly 15mg of methotrexate). All good with reduced inflamation markers. Like I said, I am lucky.
My job requires at least one trip per year to Africa, sometimes two. I love this part of my job. I get to take rest days and explore around my work schedule. I have all the vaccines necessary long before I was diagnosed. But, this is the first time I will be traveling with my lupus medication in a malaria country. And the area I am visiting is chlorquine resistant, with the recommendation to take Malarone. Can I switch the Plaquinol out with the malarone for the 19 days? There are no other drug interactions indicated. My doctor is lost, because I live far from the UK and most of his clients would never want to go to Africa. Woud appreciate any advice (except don´t tell me not to go). Thanks.
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Hi there. This is the first time I’m posting a comment since my diagnosis 4 years ago. At the time of my diagnosis, I had just handed in my notice and accepted a job offer to teach in an International School in Nigeria. Of course my plans and life came to a crashing hold and I was not allowed to leave because my SLE came withorgan involvement.
I was told by so many not to go; my condition, the blazing sun and most importantly, fear of the unknown. I went as planned (job kept open for me whilst I recovered) and was advised that I could also only take Malarone due to the other meds I was taking. In my experience, there was no requirement to replace my Plaqinol with Malarone and I took the two together. I was back and forth between Nigeria and London for 3 years and despite being on Malarone, I did get malaria on two ocassions. I had a great Consultant nephrologist whilst I was there and with antimalarial medication I was absolutely fine.
Good luck to you and love your life doing the things that make you happy 😊
Do contact one of the many travel clinics....most large airlines have the details .....they have all the information you require & are in touch with all the research you need to access. You may need to pay for a consult with a specialist, but do remember Malaria is not a disease that should be taken lightly by anybody......
I have friends who contracted it from West Africa - not only were they very sick at the time,but they continue to have the effects years later.
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