Typhoid and Malaria

One of the many things I have to attend to before starting my round-the-world trip is getting shots, and making sure I have the various medications I need with me when I travel. I'm up-to-date on tetanus and polio, and I'm covered on hepatitis A and B for life, but my typhoid shot from my India trip has expired. As it turns out your options are a shot for $61, good for two years, or a set of pills for $45, good for five years. The catch on the pills is that you have to A) keep them in the refrigerator, B) take them on an empty stomach, and C) take four of them each two days apart. A royal pain, but for five years coverage ...

I also discussed the wonders of anti-malarial drugs with the nurse at the Macon Travel Center. My friend Paul is pretty displeased with Meflaquin (aka "Lariam") because of its extensive list of side effects, which include paranoia, anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and nightmares. The company line is that only 1% of people experience side effects, but that's bullshit. It's a weekly, and I remember all too well the Sunday morning recitations of the folks on my India trip as they told us about the dreams induced by their Saturday night dose. I took doxycycline as an antimalarial on that trip, but it messes up your stomach after a while (about two weeks in for me) and I can't see taking it for months and months. Malarone is a daily with less side effects, but it's much more expensive. I'm going to find out what the prices are.