Malarone Tablets (Atovaquone/Proguanil) for Malaria Prevention

What Are Malarone Tablets?

Malarone combines two antimalarial medicines:

• Atovaquone 250mg
• Proguanil hydrochloride 100mg

The combination is licensed for the prevention of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and can also be used for certain uncomplicated malaria infections under medical supervision. For travellers, this page focuses on malaria prevention rather than treatment of established malaria.

Malarone works against stages of the malaria parasite involved in infection after an infected mosquito bite. This is why it needs to be taken before entering the malaria-risk area, throughout exposure and for a period after leaving.

It should not be chosen simply because a country is described as having malaria. Risk can vary significantly between regions within the same country, and some areas may require bite precautions without routine antimalarial tablets. Current UK guidance should be checked for the exact itinerary.

Malarone vs Generic Atovaquone/Proguanil

Malarone is a brand name for tablets containing atovaquone and proguanil.

Generic adult atovaquone/proguanil tablets also contain 250mg atovaquone and 100mg

proguanil hydrochloride per tablet.

• Manufacturer
• Tablet appearance
• Inactive ingredients
• Packaging
• Price

A generic medicine should not be assumed to be inferior simply because it does not carry the Malarone brand name.

If both options are available through the service, your prescriber can assess whether atovaquone/proguanil is suitable for your journey. The choice between branded and generic treatment does not replace the need for a destination-specific malaria assessment.

How Much Do Malarone Tablets Cost?

The total cost of malaria prevention depends on:

• Whether branded Malarone or generic atovaquone/proguanil is selected
• How many days you will spend in the malaria-risk area
• Whether you need one or two tablets before entering the area
• The seven-day post-travel course
• The pack size needed for the complete itinerary

The current Medicina Pharmacy Malarone page displays live prices for branded Malarone and generic atovaquone/proguanil. Because medicine prices can change, the live product price should be treated as the current source rather than hard-coding a price into long-term editorial content.

For a broader explanation of what affects the cost of different antimalarial courses, read How Much Are Malaria Tablets in the UK?.

How Many Malarone Tablets Do I Need?

For an adult using Malarone for malaria prevention, the usual calculation is:

Days in the malaria-risk area + 1–2 days before entering + 7 days after leaving

For example, if you spend 7 days in a malaria-risk area, you would commonly need:

• 1–2 tablets before entry
• 7 tablets while in the area
• 7 tablets after leaving

That gives a total of approximately 15–16 tablets, depending on whether treatment begins one or two days before entry.

Your exact quantity should be based on your real itinerary rather than this example. Include all relevant countries, stopovers and dates in your assessment so the appropriate course can be confirmed.

UK guidance recommends one adult-strength atovaquone/proguanil tablet daily for adults weighing 40kg or more when this medicine is the appropriate prophylactic option.

Do you Need Malarone for My Destination?

Malaria risk is highly destination-specific. One region of a country may have a significant malaria risk while another part has little or no risk requiring routine chemoprophylaxis.

Current UK guidance can recommend:

• Mosquito-bite avoidance alone
• Atovaquone/proguanil
• Doxycycline
• Mefloquine
• Another approach, depending on the destination and traveller

For example, current UK destination guidance can distinguish between high-risk and very-low-risk areas within the same country.

A proper malaria assessment should therefore consider

• Every country being visited
• Specific regions
• Rural or urban travel
• Length of stay
• Accommodation
• Planned activities
• Current health
• Existing medicines
• Previous reactions to antimalarials

Do not reuse malaria tablets from an old trip simply because you are travelling to the same country again. Recommendations can change.

How to Take Malarone for Malaria Prevention

For adults when standard adult-strength atovaquone/proguanil is appropriate, the usual prevention schedule is:

Follow the instructions on your dispensing label and patient information leaflet.

Do not shorten the seven-day post-travel course because you feel well after returning home. UKMEAG specifically advises against an abbreviated atovaquone/proguanil course after leaving a malaria-risk area.

Malarone or Doxycycline: What's the Difference?

Malarone and doxycycline are both used for malaria prevention when recommended for a particular destination, but they have different treatment schedules and safety considerations.

There is no single best malaria tablet for everyone.

A medicine that is convenient for one traveller may be unsuitable for another because of kidney function, pregnancy, other medicines, side effects, age, weight or destination recommendations.

For a fuller comparison, read Malarone vs Doxycycline vs Lariam: Which Antimalarial Is Best?.

Who May Not Be Suitable for Malarone?

Atovaquone/proguanil is not suitable for every traveller.

The adult Malarone product is contraindicated for malaria prevention in people with severe renal impairment, defined in its SmPC as creatinine clearance below 30mL/min.

A prescriber also needs to consider:

• Allergies to the medicine or its ingredients;
• Kidney function;
• Other prescription medicines;
• Non-prescription treatments and supplements;
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• Body weight;
• Previous reactions to antimalarial treatment.

Some medicines can interact with Malarone. Official product information includes cautions involving medicines such as rifampicin, rifabutin, metoclopramide, some HIV treatments and warfarin-type anticoagulants.

List all medicines and supplements accurately during your consultation rather than trying to assess interactions yourself.

Malarone Side Effects

Like all medicines, Malarone can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.

Reported effects include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhoea.

Other reactions are possible. Read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine for the complete safety information and seek advice if you develop troublesome or unexpected symptoms.

Do not stop malaria prevention early without medical advice solely because you experience a mild symptom

Seek urgent medical attention for signs of a serious allergic reaction or other severe symptoms.

Where Can You Get Malarone or Malaria Tablets in the UK?

Travellers can obtain malaria-prevention advice through appropriate travel-health and pharmacy services.

UK malaria guidance advises travellers to obtain chemoprophylaxis from a reputable source before travelling. People buying antimalarials online are specifically advised to make sure they are dealing with a bona fide supplier or website.

If you are specifically looking for Malarone, Medicina Pharmacy provides an online assessment route for branded Malarone and generic atovaquone/proguanil, subject to clinical suitability.

If you are not yet sure which antimalarial you need, start with Medicina Pharmacy's anti-malaria tablets page rather than selecting a medicine based only on price or brand.

Does Malarone Completely Prevent Malaria?

No antimalarial medicine provides complete protection from malaria.

Even when Malarone has been prescribed and is taken correctly, continue measures to reduce mosquito bites. Current UK malaria guidance recommends bite avoidance alongside antimalarial medication where chemoprophylaxis is indicated.

Useful precautions can include:

• Using an appropriate insect repellent
• Wearing clothing that covers exposed skin when practical
• Sleeping in screened or air-conditioned accommodation where available
• Using suitable mosquito nets when required
• Following current destination-specific travel-health advice

What If You Become Unwell During or After Travel?

Malaria can become serious quickly.

If you develop a fever or symptoms that could indicate malaria while travelling or after returning from a malaria-risk area, seek medical assessment promptly and tell the healthcare professional where you have travelled.

Do not assume malaria is impossible because you took antimalarial tablets.

TravelHealthPro advises travellers to seek immediate medical care for relevant fever or symptoms after travel to a malaria-risk area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Request Malarone or Generic Atovaquone/Proguanil

If current malaria guidance recommends atovaquone/proguanil for your destination, you can complete Medicina Pharmacy's travel-health assessment to request Malarone or generic atovaquone/proguanil.

Your destination, travel dates, health conditions and medicines need to be reviewed before treatment can be approved.

Completing an online consultation does not guarantee that Malarone will be prescribed or supplied.

Medical Disclaimer

This page provides general UK travel-health information and is not a substitute for an individual malaria-risk assessment.

Malaria recommendations can vary by country, region and itinerary and can change over time. Check current destination-specific UK guidance before travelling and follow the instructions provided by your prescriber, pharmacist and the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.

Seek prompt medical advice if you develop fever or symptoms suggestive of malaria during travel or after returning from a malaria-risk area.