# Malaria Tablets from a Pharmacy (UK) | Pick My Pharmacy URL: https://pickmypharmacy.co.uk/answers/can-i-get-malaria-tablets-from-a-pharmacy/ Description: Yes — antimalarials aren't free on the NHS for travel, but pharmacies supply them privately after a travel risk assessment or online consultation. --- - [Home](/) - /[Answers](/answers/) - /Can I get malaria tablets from a pharmacy? Using Your Pharmacy # Can I get malaria tablets from a pharmacy? By [Kaiser Khan](/author/kaiser-khan/) · Updated 9 July 2026 In short Yes — malaria tablets are not free on the NHS for travel, but many pharmacies supply them privately. Some can supply directly after a pharmacist-led travel risk assessment, and others via a prescription or an online pharmacy consultation. The right tablet depends on your destination, medical history and trip length: atovaquone/proguanil is typically the most expensive per day, doxycycline the cheapest, and mefloquine is taken weekly. Each drug also has a different start date before travel, so plan ahead — ideally four to six weeks. At a glance - ·Antimalarials for travel are not available free on the NHS — you pay privately whichever route you use - ·Many pharmacies supply them after an in-store travel risk assessment (under a patient group direction); others need a private prescription or online consultation - ·Atovaquone/proguanil: daily, started 1–2 days before travel and continued 7 days after — usually the priciest per day, so costs mount on long trips - ·Doxycycline: daily and typically the cheapest option, but continued for 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area - ·Mefloquine: one tablet weekly, started 2–3 weeks before travel so side effects show up before you go — often economical for longer trips - ·Order 4–6 weeks before departure where possible, and check your destination's risk on the NHS Fit for Travel website first ## Why you pay for malaria tablets — and where to get them Malaria prevention for travel sits outside normal NHS prescribing, so antimalarials are a private purchase however you obtain them. That leaves three pharmacy routes. First, many community pharmacies — especially those running travel clinics — can supply antimalarials directly after a pharmacist-led travel risk assessment, under a patient group direction. Second, any pharmacy can dispense them against a private prescription from a GP or travel clinic. Third, GPhC-registered online pharmacies supply them after an online consultation covering your itinerary and medical history, posted to your door. Prices for the same drug vary noticeably between pharmacies, so comparing is worthwhile — but be wary of any website offering antimalarials with no questions asked, which is a red flag for an unregistered seller. ## The main tablets compared Three antimalarials cover most UK travellers, and they differ in schedule and price more than headline effectiveness. Atovaquone/proguanil (branded Malarone, widely available as generics) is taken daily from one to two days before travel until seven days after leaving the risk area — the shortest tail, generally well tolerated, and typically the most expensive per day, so a long trip adds up. Doxycycline is taken daily from one to two days before travel but continues for four weeks after return; it's usually the cheapest by a distance, with sun sensitivity its best-known drawback. Mefloquine is one tablet weekly, started two to three weeks before departure — partly so any side effects appear before you travel — and continued four weeks after; it can suit long trips but isn't appropriate with certain mental health or seizure histories. As a rough guide, a typical two-week trip might cost under £20 on generic doxycycline and several times that on atovaquone/proguanil — always check current prices. ## Why the risk assessment matters There is no single best malaria tablet — the right choice depends on where exactly you're going, and getting that match wrong can leave you unprotected. Drug resistance varies by region, so a tablet that's appropriate for one country can be the wrong recommendation for its neighbour. The assessment also screens your medical history: pregnancy, epilepsy, mental health history, and interactions with regular medicines all rule specific antimalarials in or out. A pharmacy travel clinic consultation works through your full itinerary — including stopovers and rural versus city stays — against the current country guidance, and covers vaccinations at the same time. Check NHS Fit for Travel yourself first for your destination; some regions need tablets, others only bite precautions, and season can change the answer. ## Tablets are half the job — and what to do about fever No antimalarial is 100% effective, so bite prevention remains essential alongside the tablets: DEET-based repellent, long sleeves and trousers from dusk, and bed nets where accommodation isn't screened or air-conditioned. Take the full course exactly as scheduled — the post-travel tail (seven days for atovaquone/proguanil, four weeks for doxycycline and mefloquine) covers parasites picked up late in the trip, and stopping early is a common cause of preventable malaria. Finally, know the red flag: fever or flu-like illness within a year of visiting a malaria area — and especially within the first three months — needs same-day medical assessment, even if you took every tablet correctly. Tell the clinician where you travelled. This page is general information, not medical advice; speak to a pharmacist, travel clinic or GP about your specific trip, and contact NHS 111 for urgent concerns. Next step ## Compare Pharmacies for What You Need See NHS services, private prices, and reviews side by side — GPhC-checked, free, and no obligation. Pharmacies you don't pick never see your details. [Browse pharmacies](/pharmacies/)[Prescription Cost calculators →](/calculators/) ## People Also Ask How far in advance do I need to sort malaria tablets?+ Ideally four to six weeks before departure. Mefloquine needs starting two to three weeks before travel, and earlier planning leaves room to switch drugs if the first choice doesn't suit you. That said, atovaquone/proguanil only needs starting one to two days before travel, so last-minute trips can usually still be covered — ask a pharmacy travel clinic. Can I buy malaria tablets without any consultation?+ No — antimalarials in the UK are supplied only after a risk assessment, whether that's a pharmacist consultation in store, an online pharmacy questionnaire, or a prescription. A website selling them with no health questions is not operating legally and should be avoided. Which malaria tablet is cheapest?+ Doxycycline is usually the cheapest per tablet, though it must continue for four weeks after your return. Atovaquone/proguanil costs the most per day but has the shortest course. For longer trips, weekly mefloquine can work out economical if it's clinically suitable. Compare total course costs between pharmacies, not just the per-pack price. Do children need malaria tablets too?+ Yes — children travelling to risk areas need protection, with doses based on weight, and some drugs (like doxycycline) aren't suitable for young children. A travel clinic or GP should assess children rather than an adult-only online service. Keep reading - [How much are travel vaccinations in the UK?](/answers/how-much-are-travel-vaccinations/) - [Are online pharmacies safe to use?](/answers/are-online-pharmacies-safe/) - [How do I check if an online pharmacy is legit?](/answers/how-do-i-check-if-an-online-pharmacy-is-legit/) - [How do I find a good pharmacy near me?](/answers/how-do-i-find-a-good-pharmacy-near-me/) - [Pharmacy travel clinics](/services/travel-clinic/) - [Travel vaccination cost calculator](/calculators/travel-vaccination-cost-calculator/) - [Find a pharmacy near you](/pharmacies/) **Affiliate disclosure:**Pick My Pharmacy is free to use. We may earn a fee when you visit a referral partner or send a private-service enquiry. That never changes ratings, match results, or the prices you pay. Outbound partner links userel="sponsored". See[affiliate compliance](/methodology/#affiliate-compliance)and[how we make money](/how-it-works/). This article is general information for UK patients, not medical advice, and NHS rules and charges change — confirm current rules on [nhs.uk](https://www.nhs.uk) or speak to a pharmacist or GP before acting. For urgent medical help call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency. Price figures are indicative benchmarks from our[methodology](/methodology/).