Anti-malarial Drug Drove Hundreds of UK Soldiers into Psychiatric Treatment

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A prominent Major-General is one of some 1,000 UK soldiers who’ve undergone psychiatric treatment after apparently having a reaction to an anti-malarial drug, reported The Independent after a freedom of information request.

“The Ministry of Defence has been accused of knowingly risking the mental health of its own soldiers after new figures showed that nearly 1,000 British servicemen and women have required psychiatric treatment after taking a discredited anti-malarial drug,” stated The Independent. “Psychosis, suicidal thoughts, depression and hallucinations are among the mental-health problems associated with Lariam, also known as mefloquine.”

The Major-General’s wife told The Independent: “Like others, I believe that this is a scandal. If 1,000 troops have reported the effects then you can be sure there are others who have not. I know personally of several and anecdotally of many more… The long-term effects of this will be more and more in evidence over the coming years.”

Lariam: Hundreds of British soldiers suffering from mental illness after being given anti-malarial drug (The Independent, April 15, 2015)

2 COMMENTS

  1. The stroke of good luck for those truly unfortunate and badly wronged military people is that their symptoms and misery will not be attributed to the recurrence of an underlying disorder, unless someone disingenuously trots out PTSD.

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  2. “Psychosis, suicidal thoughts, depression and hallucinations are among the mental-health problems associated with Lariam, also known as mefloquine.”

    Which is particular fun when you happen to be in the region of the world where you are either at war or dealing with dangerous circumstances, natural disasters and such. Perfect in this line of work.

    Nobody is safe from the pathetic mess that today’s pharmaceutical industry has become.

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