Maloff Protect Malaria Tablets: Who Needs Them and How to Take Them

Maloff Protect Malaria Tablets: Who Needs Them and How to Take Them

Quick Answer

Start taking Maloff Protect 1-2 days before you enter a malaria-risk area, take one tablet every day during your stay, and continue for 7 days after you return. Take it once daily with food or a milky drink. Pharmacy supply without a prescription is limited to trips of up to 12 weeks.

What Is Maloff Protect and How Does It Work?

Maloff Protect is an antimalarial medicine containing two active ingredients:

  • Atovaquone 250mg
  • Proguanil Hydrochloride 100mg

It contains the same active ingredients as the branded medicine Malarone and works by killing the malaria parasite before it can establish an infection in your body.

Adults can obtain Maloff Protect directly from a pharmacy without a GP prescription, although a pharmacist will ask a few health and travel questions to ensure it is suitable for your trip.

Maloff Protect Dosage: How and When to Take It

  1. Start taking it 1-2 days before travelling to a malaria-risk area.
  2. Take one tablet once daily throughout your stay.
  3. Take it at the same time each day.
  4. Continue taking it for 7 days after leaving the malaria-risk area.
  5. Take each tablet with food or a milky drink for better absorption.
  6. Swallow tablets whole wherever possible.
Important: Do not stop taking Maloff Protect early. Completing the full 7-day course after leaving the malaria-risk area is essential to eliminate any malaria parasites that may still be developing.

This guidance is based on the manufacturer's patient information leaflet and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always confirm the most appropriate antimalarial with your pharmacist or doctor before travelling.

Who Can-and Can't-Take Maloff Protect?

Maloff Protect is available over the counter for adults but is not suitable for children or adolescents under 18 years unless prescribed by a doctor.

You should speak to a doctor instead of buying it directly from a pharmacy if you:

  • Weigh less than 40kg
  • Are pregnant, planning pregnancy, or breastfeeding
  • Have kidney or liver disease
  • Have a history of depression or seizures
  • Take certain medicines including HIV treatments, Warfarin or DOAC blood thinners

Pharmacy supply without a prescription is limited to trips of up to 12 weeks (93 tablets). Longer trips require assessment by a doctor or independent prescriber.

Maloff Protect vs Malarone: What's the Difference?

Feature Maloff Protect Malarone
Active Ingredients Atovaquone 250mg + Proguanil 100mg Atovaquone 250mg + Proguanil 100mg
Effectiveness Equivalent Equivalent
Manufacturer Generic manufacturer Original brand
Price Usually lower Usually higher

Both medicines work in exactly the same way because they contain the same active ingredients in the same strengths.

What If You're Sick After Taking a Dose?

If you vomit within one hour of taking Maloff Protect:

  • Take another tablet as soon as possible.
  • Contact your pharmacist or doctor for further advice.
  • Continue using mosquito bite prevention measures because vomiting or diarrhoea can reduce medicine absorption.

Beyond the Tablets: Reducing Your Malaria Risk

No malaria medicine provides 100% protection. Always combine Maloff Protect with mosquito bite prevention measures:

  • Use insect repellent on exposed skin.
  • Wear long sleeves and trousers, particularly after sunset.
  • Sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net where appropriate.
  • Stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodation.
  • Keep windows and doors closed after sunset if they are not screened.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a prescription for Maloff Protect?
No - adults can buy it directly from a pharmacy after a short health and travel screening, as long as the trip is 12 weeks or less. Longer trips or certain health conditions require a doctor's prescription.
Is Maloff Protect suitable for children?
Only if prescribed by a doctor. It's not available over the counter for anyone under 18.
What are the common side effects?
The most common side effects include feeling sick, stomach pain, diarrhoea, and headaches. Most reported side effects are mild and short-lived.
How effective is Maloff Protect?
When taken correctly, atovaquone/proguanil combinations have been shown to be over 95% effective at preventing malaria - but this depends on taking the full course, including the 7 days after you return.
What should I do if I get flu-like symptoms after returning home?
Seek medical advice promptly if you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms during your trip or within a year of returning, and tell the doctor you've visited a malaria-risk area - malaria symptoms can appear as early as 7 days after a bite.

Planning a Trip to a Malaria-Risk Area?

Maloff Protect malaria tablets are available from Pharmazon Direct, with a quick pharmacist consultation during checkout to confirm suitability for your destination.

Buy Maloff Protect Malaria Tablets

Not sure which antimalarial is right for your destination? Speak with our pharmacist team before ordering and remember to check your trip length against the 12-week supply limit.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine and consult your pharmacist or doctor before travelling to a malaria-risk destination.