THE DEFENCE Forces have no plans to stop using a controversial anti-malaria drug despite a move by the US army to drop the medication as its treatment of choice for the disease.
PDforra, the Defence Forces Representative Association, said it had concerns about the use of Lariam by its members and it was carrying out its own assessment following complaints of side effects from troops.
The drug has been linked to side effects including suicidal tendencies, aggression and paranoia.
The US army has dropped it as its preferred protection against malaria because doctors had inadvertently prescribed it to people who should not take it.
On February 2nd, Lt Gen Eric Schoomaker, surgeon general of the US army, issued a memo stating that the use of the drug should be limited among US troops because of its potential risk to soldiers with health issues. He wrote that in some rare cases, Mefloquine, widely known as Lariam, can cause psychiatric symptoms and suicidal thoughts.
General secretary of PDforra Jerry Rooney said the association would carry out its own assessment. “Following recent developments concerning the US army . . . we do have concerns . . . We have received complaints of sweats and bad dreams.”
A spokesperson for the Defence Forces said it was aware of its possible side effects with Lariam but “there are no plans to stop its use”.
Lariam is the most commonly used anti-malaria drug by Irish soldiers in Chad and other countries where malaria is a problem.