§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the number of(a) deaths and (b) serious illnesses resulting from the use of lariam. [1486]
§ Ms JowellThe Medicines Control Agency receives reports of suspected adverse reactions to licensed medicinal products via the Yellow Card Scheme. A report of a suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the medicine. However, as the scheme is voluntary, not all adverse reactions are reported.
There have been 685 reports of 910 suspected serious adverse reactions reported in association with mefloquine. Of these adverse reactions, 653 were neurological or psychiatric. The majority of these reactions were not clinically severe. The commonest reactions reported were depression, headache, anxiety and panic reactions. These are included as possible side-effects in the product information, which is provided to health professionals and patients.
Four deaths have been reported in association with mefloquine. Three are likely to be related to factors other than treatment with mefloquine. One patient died of a serious skin reaction which is very rare, but recognised as occurring in association with mefloquine and many other drugs.