Lily DaneThe FDA has issued a public safety announcement for mefloquine, an anti-malarial drug also known by the brand name Lariam. The drug will now carry a “black box” warning – the most serious warning the FDA issues.
Mefloquine has been used by U.S. troops for years, and is also available to civilians traveling to “hot spots”. It was developed by the US Army and became available on the commercial market in 1989. It is one of the most commonly prescribed anti-malarial drugs in the U.S., with about 119,000 prescriptions written in the first half of 2013.
The FDA warning about the mefloquine was issued on July 29, 2013 in a public safety announcement, which states:
