`I was an extremely healthy and happy individual before I took Lariam. But now even making a telephone call can be an effort that is too much for me. I haven't worked in almost two years. I get anxiety attacks and have been in hospital a number of times. I suffer from chronic insomnia and in the early stages I was so weak I could not even climb the stairs.
"It took 18 months before Lariam was connected with my illness when I eventually went to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London. I saw a specialist, Dr Gordon Cook, and Dr Cook said there was `no doubt' that my symptoms were consistent with mefloquine (Larium) toxicity and he could not predict when a full recovery would take place.
"Before going on honeymoon in Kenya in August 1996, we went to the doctor and were told we needed to take Lariam. I had heard about problems with with one of the anti-malarial drugs and asked the doctor if Lariam was safe. I was told that it was only `media hype' and that there be bad dreams but that would be all.
"I was very conscious of the risk of malaria and took seven of the eight mefloquine tablets prescribed, at weekly intervals. I had taken paludrine and chloroquine (other antimalarials) in the past and had no problems.
"The problems began after taking the first tablet. I got panic attacks, and dizziness. I felt agoraphobic and claustrophobic. But I had been told by the doctor that I should not stop taking the tablets. I felt fairly OK on honeymoon - I didn't have any psychotic episodes. But when I came back and kept taking the tablets the problems got very bad. While I was driving my vision went and my wife had to take over. The doctor said it was probably a viral infection. I was still working at that stage but finding it very hard, dragging myself out of bed in the morning.
"In the end, my suspicions turned to Lariam. Someone gave me the address of a Lariam support group in the UK and when they sent me the list of symptoms. I matched them all. Then I went to the hospital in London and really found out what was wrong with me. In Ireland we were just getting a blank on Lariam from the doctors. Dr Cook advised rest and that is what I have been doing. If I am going to a social gathering or anything I need to take a mild sedative to be able to cope.
"My wife, Cathy, and I have not been out to dinner since we got married. I can't cope with loud noise and things like that. I went to my brother's wedding recently and it took me weeks to recover. It is very hard to go from someone who was extremely healthy, who played sport, and had a very good job that I loved, to being like a vegetable at home.
"We believe Lariam should be prescribed long before you go away and there should be follow-up visits after each tablet. I am not a medical person and I am not advising anyone not to take Lariam, but the consumer has the right to known about the side effects."
Andrew Bryce is involved in setting up a Lariam support group in Ireland. He asks anyone interested in further information to write to Mefloquine Action Ireland, Box 6455, Dublin 2.