Healthy Inc > Blog > treatment of resistant malaria
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Is mefloquine available in India?

In the pharmaceutical industry, Mefloquine (brand name Lariam) is a potent, long-acting antimalarial drug utilized for both prevention and treatment of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

As a pharmacist and manufacturer, I can confirm that Mefloquine is available and manufactured in India in 2026. However, its use is strictly regulated due to its significant neuropsychiatric side-effect profile.

Availability & Manufacturing in India

  • Manufacturing Hub: Several Indian firms, primarily in Surat and Ankleshwar, Gujarat, are major manufacturers and exporters of Mefloquine 250 mg tablets.

  • Approval Status: It is approved by the CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) for specific indications.

  • Brand Landscape: While many global markets have shifted away from Mefloquine, it remains available under several Indian trade names:

    • Mefque (Zydus Cadila)

      Meflotas (Intas/Lupin)

    • Mefloc (Aristo)

      Falcimef (HAB Pharma)

    • Confal (Lupin)

National Drug Policy & Clinical Use

The National Drug Policy on Malaria (2013) in India provides specific guidelines for its use:

  • Chemoprophylaxis: It is recommended for travelers or personnel (including armed forces) staying in endemic areas for longer than 6 weeks.

  • Dosing: For prevention, it is taken as a 250 mg weekly dose, starting 2 weeks before arrival and continuing for 4 weeks after leaving the endemic area.

  • Combination Therapy: It is often co-formulated with Artesunate (ACT) to treat drug-resistant malaria.

The Pharmacist’s “Technical Warning”

As you promote your firm on digital platforms, providing these technical warnings is essential for clinical authority:

  • Neuropsychiatric Risk: Mefloquine can cause severe anxiety, depression, hallucinations, and “frank psychosis”. It is strictly contraindicated in patients with a history of psychiatric disorders or seizures.

    Long Half-Life: The drug has an exceptionally long half-life of 2 to 4 weeks. This means side effects can persist long after the medication is stopped.

  • Cardiac Warning: It should be used with caution in patients with heart rhythm disorders, as it can cause QT prolongation.

The Manufacturer’s Perspective: Technical & Export

From a production and B2B standpoint at your facility in Mumbai:

  • The “ACT” Strategy: On your marketplace, highlight your Artesunate + Mefloquine FDCs. These are high-demand products for international health tenders, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa where resistance is a concern.

  • Stability for Export: Mefloquine is stable but requires protection from light and moisture. Utilizing Alu-Alu blister packaging ensures a 36-month shelf life, vital for export to Zone IVb tropical regions.

  • Dossier Support: We provide full CTD/eCTD Dossiers to support your firm’s registration in international markets and for bidding on global antimalarial tenders

Artesunate Mefloquine Tablets

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What is Quinine Dulphate 300MG used for?

In the pharmaceutical industry, Quinine Sulphate 300 mg is one of the oldest and most established antimalarial agents, derived from the cinchona tree.As a pharmacist and manufacturer, I classify this as a blood schizonticide. While newer artemisinin-based therapies (ACTs) are now the first line for many types of malaria, Quinine remains a vital “rescue” treatment and a cornerstone for specific clinical scenarios where resistance is an issue.

Primary Clinical Uses

  • Severe or Resistant Malaria: It is primarily indicated for the treatment of acute attacks of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, especially in regions where the parasite has developed resistance to Chloroquine.

  • Nocturnal Leg Cramps: Although its use for this has been restricted in some Western markets due to the risk/benefit ratio, it is still frequently prescribed in various international markets to reduce the frequency of painful nighttime leg cramps.

  • Babesiosis: Occasionally used in combination with Clindamycin to treat this rare, tick-borne parasitic infection.

Mechanism of Action: Heme Detoxification

Quinine works by disrupting the way the malaria parasite processes its “food” (hemoglobin).

Entry into the Food Vacuole: The parasite ingests the host’s hemoglobin. This releases Heme, which is toxic to the parasite.

Inhibition of Hemozoin Formation: To survive, the parasite normally converts toxic heme into non-toxic hemozoin crystals via the enzyme heme polymerase.

Toxic Accumulation: Quinine blocks this enzyme. The toxic heme accumulates within the parasite, essentially poisoning it from the inside out and causing cell death.

The Manufacturer’s Perspective: Technical & Export

From a production and B2B standpoint at your WHO-GMP facility in Mumbai, Quinine 300 mg is a high-demand specialty product:

  • The “Cinchonism” Safety Profile: As a pharmacist, you know the importance of monitoring for “Cinchonism” (tinnitus, headache, nausea). For your digital platform and B2B clients, providing clear Product Information Leaflets (PIL) that detail these side effects is a mark of professional transparency.

  • Taste Masking: Quinine is exceptionally bitter. In our manufacturing process, we utilize high-quality film coating or sugar coating for the 300 mg tablets to ensure patient compliance, which is a major selling point for export.

  • Stability & Packaging: Quinine Sulphate is light-sensitive. We utilize Alu-Alu or Amber-colored PVC/PVDC blisters to ensure a 36-month shelf life, especially for export to Zone IVb regions (Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia).

  • Dossier Support: This is an “Essential Medicine” on the WHO list. Our Mumbai facility provides full CTD/eCTD Dossiers to help you register and supply this to international NGOs and government tenders.

Quinine Sulphate Tablets

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