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Composition

MEFLOQUINE-250MG

Manufacturer/Marketer

Zydus Healthcare Ltd

Consume Type

ORAL

Return Policy

Not Returnable

Expires on or after

Jan-25

for this medicine

About Mefque Tablet

Mefque Tablet comes into the category of 'Antimalarials' mainly used to treat or prevent malaria. Malaria is a life-threatening disease that is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito (anopheles mosquito). When an infected mosquito bites a healthy person, then it transmits the infections into the bloodstream, which after several days starts affecting the red blood cells & liver cells, breaking them in the process. Usually, an infected person starts noticing the symptoms of malaria within 10 days to 4 weeks after the infection that include shaking chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma and bloody stools.

Mefque Tablet contains ‘mefloquine’, which acts by killing the malarial parasites. It works by enhancing the levels of heme in the blood. Haeme is a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. In this way, the parasite gets killed by its toxic by-products released during its metabolism of hemoglobin. This kills the parasite and prevents the infection from spreading.

Take Mefque Tablet as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Mefque Tablet for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. You may experience sleeping problems (bad dreams, sleepiness, unable to sleep), headache, dizziness, vertigo (loss of balance), itching, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhoea. Most of these side effects of Mefque Tablet do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.

Before taking Mefque Tablet, please inform your doctor if you have any allergy to Mefque Tablet or its active part. Mefque Tablet should not be taken in conditions like liver disease, kidney disease, eye problems and epilepsy/ fits disorder. Mefque Tablet should not be given to children less than 3 months. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking Mefque Tablet. Do not drive or use a machine while taking Mefque Tablet as it causes dizziness. If you have some tolerance for sugar, you should not take Mefque Tablet. Contact your doctor before taking Mefque Tablet.

Uses of Mefque Tablet

Treatment of Malaria

Medicinal Benefits

Mefque Tablet falls into a group of medicines known as antimalarials, which are indicated for treating or preventing malaria. Mefque Tablet contains mefloquine, which is quinoline medicine, that works by enhancing the levels of heme in the blood. Haeme is a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. In this way, the parasite gets killed by its toxic by-products released during its metabolism of hemoglobin. This kills the parasite and prevents the infection from spreading.

Side Effects of Mefque Tablet

  • Sleeping problems (bad dreams, sleepiness, unable to sleep)
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Vertigo (loss of balance)
  • Itching
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Diarrhoea

Directions for Use

Take Mefque Tablet preferably after a meal or as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole with water; do not crush, break or chew it.

Storage

Store in a cool and dry place away from sunlight

Drug Warnings

Mefque Tablet should not be taken in conditions like epilepsy/fits, heart problems, liver/ kidney disease, eye problems, inflammation in the lungs, and low blood sugar level. Before taking Mefque Tablet inform your doctor if you have suicidal thoughts, severe anxiety, abnormal dreams, insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), depression, feeling restless and confusion. Before taking Mefque Tablet, please inform your doctor if you have any allergy to Mefque Tablet or its active part Mefque Tablet should not be given to children less than 3 months. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please inform your doctor before taking Mefque Tablet. Do not drive or use a machine while taking Mefque Tablet as it causes dizziness. If you have some tolerance for sugar, you should not take Mefque Tablet. Contact your doctor before taking Mefque Tablet.

Therapeutic Class

ANTI- MALARIALS

Drug Interactions

Drug-Drug Interaction: Mefque Tablet may interact with other antimalarial medicines (chloroquine, quinidine, quinine), antidepressants (amitriptyline), antipsychotics (phenothiazine), medicines for fits/epilepsy (carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, valproate), antifungal (ketoconazole), antibiotics (rifampicin, penicillins, cephalosporins), medicines for HIV infections (efavirenz), painkiller (tramadol), blood thinner (warfarin).

Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions found.

Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have depression, heart disease, fits/ epilepsy and liver disease, inform your doctor before taking Mefque Tablet.

Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List

  • CHLOROQUINE
  • QUINIDINE
  • QUININE
  • AMITRIPTYLINE
  • PHENOTHIAZINE
  • CARBAMAZEPINE
  • PHENYTOIN
  • PHENOBARBITAL
  • VALPROATE
  • RIFAMPICIN
  • PENICILLIN
  • KETOCONAZOLE
  • EFAVIRENZ
  • TRAMADOL
  • WARFARIN

Diet & Lifestyle Advise

  • A person should take nutritious food as when a person has a malarial fever, their body's requirement gets increased, and also taking high carbohydrate diet, Fresh fruits and vegetables help in recovering the body fast.
  • During fever, a person may experience appetite loss, thus eating food becomes a challenge. To deal with this, one should drink glucose water, fresh fruit juices, coconut water, to supplying the body's requirements through liquids.
  • High malaria fever makes the body weak and reduces appetite to take food that helps to synthesize immune bodies and help the body deal with parasites.
  • A person should not take very high-fiber foods like green leafy vegetables, and fruits with thick skin, as the body is already in the healing stage and it also has to digest these complex foods.
  • Take proper rest, which helps the body to relax and heal faster.

Habit Forming

No

What if I have taken an overdose of Mefque Tablet

Avoid exceeding the recommended dose as it could lead to an overdose. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, pain on the right side of your stomach, dizziness, loss of balance, difficulty falling or staying asleep, unusual dreams, tingling in your fingers or toes, difficulty walking, seizures, and changes in mental health. If you experience these symptoms or suspect you have taken an overdose, seek immediate medical attention.

Special Advise

  • Take Mefque Tablet as prescribed by your doctor, do not stop takin if you feel better.
  • Your doctor may advice regular eye check up, during the treatment with Mefque Tablet as it may cause damage to the retina.

Disease/Condition Glossary

Malaria: It is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. This is a common disease in countries like Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. This disease usually occurs when an infected mosquito (infected with the parasite 'Plasmodium', parasites are organisms that live in other living organisms for their survival) bites a healthy individual then this parasite gets transferred into the bloodstream and starts growing and destroying the red blood cells of the body. There are four parasites responsible for causing malaria that include Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malaria and P. falciparum. Generally, an infected person starts noticing the symptoms within 10 days to 4 weeks after the mosquito bite, which include shaking chills that can range from moderate to high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma and bloody stools.

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Alcohol

Unsafe

A person should limit the consumption of alcohol as it may worsen the side effects. It may lead to liver damage.

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Pregnancy

Caution

Mefque Tablet is given to pregnant women only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy.

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Breast Feeding

Caution

It is not safe to breastfeed while taking Mefque Tablet. A patient is advised to take this drug only at a doctor's consultation.

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Driving

Caution

Mefque Tablet may cause dizziness, so one should avoid driving or doing any activity that needs mental alertness.

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Liver

Caution

Mefque Tablet should be used with caution in patients with impaired liver function. Consult your doctor before using Mefque Tablet.

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Kidney

Caution

Mefque Tablet should be used with caution in patients with impaired kidney function. Consult your doctor before using Mefque Tablet.

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Children

Caution

Mefque Tablet should not be used for children below 3 months. Mefque Tablet should be used only when prescribed by a child specialist.

Country of origin

INDIA

Manufacturer/Marketer address

Khasra No. 66/3, & 67/2, Juddi Kalan, Baddi-173205, Distt. Solan (H.P.)
Other Info - MEF0003

Author Details

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FAQs

Mefque Tablet is used to treat malaria.
Mefque Tablet is safe if used in the dose and duration recommended by your doctor. Take it just as instructed and do not skip any dose. Follow your doctor's directions carefully and inform your doctor if any of the side effects disturb you.
No, do not stop taking Mefque Tablet without asking your doctor even if you are feeling better. Your symptoms may enhance before the infection is completely cured. Thus, for better and complete treatment, it is instructed to continue your treatment for the recommended duration.
It has been reported that taking Mefque Tablet for a long time may cause irreversible damage to the retina of your eye which can even lead to vision loss, so take this medicine for the time suggested by the doctor.
High fever with chills is the main symptom of malaria. The symptoms include feeling of cold and shivering, high fever, sweating. It also includes headache, nausea, body pain and weakness.
No, do not take antifungal (ketoconazole) with Mefque Tablet and for at least 15 weeks after you stop taking it. Serious, life-threatening side effects on your heart can occur. Consult your doctor for further advice.

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