Lariam: 'In a split-second I tried to hang myself'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36367214 Version 0 of 1. People who have taken the anti-malarial drug Lariam say it should not be available because of its serious side-effects. Enduring nightmares, changes in personality, and suicidal thoughts have been attributed to the drug. As well as civilians, it has been prescribed to thousands of army personnel. Here, two ex-servicemen describe what happened to them after they took Lariam. In 2000, I was sent to Sierra Leone at hours' notice. After 10 days there, I was given Lariam and told to take a tablet once a week. I thought it was a bit late, as I was already eaten alive by the mosquitoes and that the damage would have already been done. Pretty much the next day, I felt something wasn't right - I didn't sleep and I felt dizzy. As time went on, the feelings got worse. I didn't get much sleep - but, when I did, I had these weird dreams that felt real. In one of them, I was speaking to my granddad at the foot of my sleeping bag, even though he was dead. I felt anxious and nauseous, and was sweating. I put it down to being frightened because of the situation I was in. I went to a doctor and had tests for malaria[, which] came back negative. But I still wasn't feeling OK, so I made another appointment and told the doctor about the strange thoughts I had. He told me it wasn't PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and to get on with it. I felt stupid. Suicidal thoughts When I got home, things got worse. I felt depressed and threw myself into work. Then, I felt suicidal and wondered when were these feelings going to stop. In March 2004, a voice in my head told me: "Go on, do it, just kill yourself." In a split-second, I tried to hang myself. I was lucky to be found. I felt guilt and shame. It wasn't until last year [that] I talked to my wife about how I was feeling. In April, I got help though the veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress. I felt I could talk openly, it gave me a fresh way of thinking, and I did CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). I understood where the root cause of how I was feeling came from - I didn't have any mental health issues before I took Lariam. I now know why I attempted suicide, and it wasn't me being weak. It was good to finally put a label on what was wrong with me. I am on anti-depressants and the effects of my illness are less. But I fear there are more soldiers out there who have taken Lariam and won't come forward. I served 30 years in the Army, and most of my active service was in Africa, so I understand the need to take anti-malaria drugs. We were taking Paludrine for a while. In 1995, I was in Angola working with the United Nations in Operation Chantress. We were deployed at short notice and were given Lariam tablets to take. After about four to six weeks, I saw myself change and my mental state was different. I had very bad dreams. I noticed my interpersonal skills deteriorating I was confrontational and difficult to be around. I was hard to communicate with, and I wasn't willing to do anything. I became the complete opposite of what I am normally. I spoke to others who took Lariam, and they were feeling the same - there was a lot us. I decided to come off it as soon as I could. I saw a medic who said there are side-effects from taking Lariam. I went back to using Paludrine, and, within days, I was back to normal. I don't think I have suffered any long-term effects from using Lariam, but I do have to declare that I have used it in the past. Interviews by Andree Massiah |