Malaria Tablets
Some malaria tablets can be supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription; others need a prescriber. Compare travel health services before you fly.
Antimalarial tablets are available from pharmacy travel clinics and GPhC-registered online pharmacies, and which one you need depends on your destination — check the country advice on fitfortravel.nhs.uk or TravelHealthPro well before you travel. Some antimalarials can be supplied by a pharmacist without a prescription: chloroquine with proguanil, and pharmacy-strength atovaquone/proguanil (sold as Maloff Protect), are pharmacy medicines supplied after a consultation where they suit your trip. Others — including doxycycline and mefloquine — are prescription-only, so a prescriber consultation is required. Private prices vary by medicine and trip length: indicative ranges run from around £20 for a short chloroquine/proguanil course to £50-£90 or more for a fortnight's atovaquone/proguanil — always confirm current prices with the provider. Start your course before entering the malarious area and finish it after leaving, exactly as directed. Tablets alone aren't enough: use a DEET-based repellent, sleep under treated nets, and cover up at dusk and dawn. A fever during travel — or up to a year after return — needs urgent medical attention; always mention where you've been. See our travel clinic page for vaccinations too.
Typical cost
£20 – £90
0 pharmacies offering malaria tablets
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get malaria tablets from a pharmacy without a prescription?▼
Sometimes. Chloroquine with proguanil, and pharmacy-strength atovaquone/proguanil (Maloff Protect), are pharmacy medicines a pharmacist can supply after a consultation if they're appropriate for your destination and health. Doxycycline, mefloquine, and other regimens are prescription-only and need a prescriber. Our answer on getting malaria tablets from a pharmacy explains the routes.
How much do malaria tablets cost?▼
It depends on the medicine and trip length. Indicative private ranges run from around £20 for a short chloroquine/proguanil course up to £50-£90 or more for a fortnight of atovaquone/proguanil. Antimalarials are not available on the NHS for travel, so compare total course prices, including any consultation fee, before you commit.
When should I start taking malaria tablets?▼
It varies by medicine: atovaquone/proguanil and doxycycline are usually started one to two days before entering the malarious area, while mefloquine needs to begin two to three weeks before. Courses also continue after you leave — from one week (atovaquone/proguanil) to four weeks (doxycycline, mefloquine). Follow the exact instructions you're given.
What else protects against malaria besides tablets?▼
Bite prevention is essential even with tablets: use a repellent containing around 50% DEET, sleep under insecticide-treated nets, keep arms and legs covered at dusk and dawn, and stay in screened or air-conditioned rooms where possible. Think ABCD — Awareness of risk, Bite prevention, Chemoprophylaxis (tablets), and prompt Diagnosis of fever.
What if I get a fever after travelling?▼
Treat any fever during your trip or within a year of returning as possible malaria until proven otherwise — seek medical attention urgently (in the UK, your GP, NHS 111, or A&E) and say exactly where you travelled. Falciparum malaria can become serious within hours.