Maloff Protect

Maloff Protect is a pharmacy medicine used to prevent malaria in adults travelling to areas where malaria is a risk. Malaria is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, which passes the malaria parasite into your bloodstream. Maloff Protect works by killing the malaria parasite, preventing an infection from taking hold. The active ingredients in Maloff Protect are atovaquone (250mg) and proguanil hydrochloride (100mg) per tablet. These two ingredients work together to target the parasite at different stages of its life cycle, making Maloff Protect particularly effective against drug‑sensitive and drug‑resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum – the most dangerous type of malaria parasite. As well as taking Maloff Protect, it is very important that you also take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes: use insect repellent on exposed skin, wear clothing that covers most of your body (especially after sunset), sleep under a mosquito net treated with insecticide, and keep windows and doors closed at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

The two active ingredients in Maloff Protect work together in different ways to stop the malaria parasite from multiplying and surviving in your body. Atovaquone disrupts the parasite's ability to produce energy, effectively starving it so it cannot grow or survive. Proguanil interferes with the parasite's ability to reproduce inside your red blood cells and also helps atovaquone to work more effectively. This combined action is highly effective. Clinical studies have shown that atovaquone/proguanil is up to 95.8% effective at preventing malaria when taken correctly.

To get the best protection, you must take Maloff Protect exactly as directed. Dosage: Take one tablet once a day, at the same time each day. Take each tablet with food or a milky drink, as this significantly improves absorption. Start taking Maloff Protect 1 to 2 days before entering a malaria‑risk area. Keep taking one tablet every day for the entire time you are in the malaria area. You must continue taking Maloff Protect for 7 full days after leaving the malaria area. The tablets should be swallowed whole. What if you vomit within one hour of taking a dose? Take a repeat dose. If vomiting continues, contact your doctor or pharmacist. What if you forget to take a dose? Take it as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for your next dose. If it is the next day, skip the missed dose and take your next tablet at the usual time. Do not take two tablets together to make up for a missed dose. How many tablets do you need? Add the number of days away + 7 (days after return) + 2 (days before travel). For example, a 14‑day holiday would need 14 + 7 + 2 = 23 tablets.

The Maloff Protect price varies depending on how many tablets you need for your trip. As a guide: 1 week (16 tablets) approximately £35.00; 2 weeks (23 tablets) approximately £53.00; 3 weeks (30 tablets) approximately £70.00; 4 weeks (37 tablets) approximately £86.00; 6 weeks (51 tablets) approximately £125.00; 8 weeks (65 tablets) approximately £155.00; 12 weeks (93 tablets) approximately £185.00. Prices may vary between pharmacies. If you want to buy Maloff Protect online, the process is straightforward. You complete a short online consultation – a health questionnaire about your travel plans, medical history, and other medicines. A UK‑registered pharmacist reviews your answers and, if approved, your medication is dispatched. Most UK online pharmacies offer Maloff Protect next day delivery, with discreet, plain packaging. One of the key advantages of Maloff Protect is that you can buy it without a prescription – it is the first over‑the‑counter malaria prevention treatment available in the UK. However, you will still need to answer a few questions to ensure it is safe for you. You should never buy malaria medication from unregulated websites – counterfeit medicines can be dangerous and will not protect you against malaria.

Yes, Maloff Protect and Malarone contain exactly the same active ingredients and dosage – both contain 250mg atovaquone and 100mg proguanil hydrochloride per tablet. The only difference is the manufacturer and the brand name. Malarone was the first brand of this combination to become available in the UK, but Maloff Protect is a cheaper generic alternative. In addition, Maloff Protect is available without a prescription, whereas Malarone requires a prescription, making Maloff Protect a more convenient and accessible option for most travellers. If you want to order Maloff Protect online, you will find it is typically less expensive than Malarone while providing identical protection.

Maloff Protect is generally well‑tolerated, with most people experiencing no side effects or only mild ones. Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people): headache, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting, stomach pain or discomfort, diarrhoea, dizziness, loss of appetite, sleeping problems (insomnia), strange or vivid dreams, cough, and rashes and itching. Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people): mouth ulcers, hair loss, hives (itchy, bumpy rash), heart palpitations, depression, and anxiety. Serious side effects – rare but important: stop taking Maloff Protect and seek medical help immediately if you experience swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing (signs of a severe allergic reaction); a severe skin rash that may blister and peel, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens‑Johnson syndrome); or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), which may be a sign of possible liver inflammation.

There are several groups of people who should not take Maloff Protect. Do NOT take Maloff Protect if: you are allergic to atovaquone, proguanil hydrochloride, or any of the other ingredients; you have kidney disease of any severity; you have liver disease of any severity; you are under 40kg bodyweight (approximately 6 stone 4lbs), as Maloff Protect is not recommended for malaria prevention in persons under 40kg; or you are taking certain medicines that can interact dangerously with Maloff Protect. Use with caution (and speak to a doctor or pharmacist) if: you have a history of depression or seizures (epilepsy); you have tuberculosis; or you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are unsure whether Maloff Protect is right for you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking it.

Yes, Maloff Protect can interact with several other medicines. Some interactions can make it less effective, while others can increase the risk of side effects. Do NOT take Maloff Protect with: rifampicin or rifabutin (antibiotics for tuberculosis) – these can significantly reduce the level of Maloff Protect in your blood; metoclopramide (used for nausea) – this can reduce the absorption of Maloff Protect; or tetracycline antibiotics, which may reduce effectiveness. Interactions needing caution: warfarin and other anticoagulants (blood thinners) – Maloff Protect may increase the anticoagulant effect, raising the risk of bleeding, and your INR may need closer monitoring; and efavirenz, zidovudine, indinavir and other HIV protease inhibitors, which can affect Maloff Protect levels. Always tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are taking, including those bought without a prescription, as well as any herbal remedies or supplements. Alcohol: There is no specific interaction between Maloff Protect and alcohol, but drinking may worsen side effects such as nausea, dizziness or headache, so drink in moderation. Driving: Maloff Protect may cause dizziness in some people. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery until you feel well again.

Maloff Protect is not recommended for children or adolescents unless it has been prescribed by a doctor. The official guidance states that Maloff Protect tablets are not recommended for malaria chemoprophylaxis in persons under 40kg bodyweight. If you are travelling to a malaria area with a child, speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice on appropriate malaria prevention for your child.

Pregnancy: Maloff Protect is not recommended during pregnancy, as there is limited safety data available. The medicine may be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefit to the mother outweighs any potential risk to the foetus. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or think you might be pregnant, speak to your doctor before taking Maloff Protect. Breastfeeding: Maloff Protect is not recommended whilst breastfeeding, as the ingredients may pass into breast milk. There is limited data on its safety in nursing infants. If you are breastfeeding, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using Maloff Protect – they can help you weigh the potential benefits against the risks and may recommend an alternative antimalarial.

If you order Maloff Protect online through a regulated service such as Access Doctor, and you complete the consultation before the daily cut‑off time (usually mid‑afternoon Monday to Friday), your order will be dispatched the same day. Most UK online pharmacies offer Maloff Protect next day delivery as a standard service, with orders arriving by Royal Mail Tracked 24 or a similar courier service. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive tracking information so you can follow your delivery. Some pharmacies also offer click‑and‑collect, allowing you to pick up your order from a local pharmacy branch in as little as two hours after approval. Because Maloff Protect is available without a prescription, you can buy it online and have it delivered directly to your home without needing a GP appointment – making it an excellent choice for last‑minute travel, as you can start taking it just 1‑2 days before departure. The packaging is plain and unmarked, ensuring your privacy is protected.

Store below 25°C (room temperature) in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep the blister pack in its outer carton to protect it from moisture. Keep the medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use the tablets after the expiry date printed on the packaging. If you have any leftover tablets, do not throw them away in household waste or pour them down the sink. Take them to your local pharmacy, where they will be disposed of safely.