Posted 7/17/2022 7:56 PM (GMT -8)
Odd that you can't take a live virus vaccine... I was not given that warning when I took Entyvio.
Anyway... about malaria pills. When I lived in Asia for 2 years, I took the chloroquine variety when I traveled to endemic regions and it did not affect my UC, but I got some of the other side effects like altered mental status and insane dreams. It was not exactly pleasant, but it was that or risk malaria. I tolerated it. However, I was taking hydroxychloroquine which is an older generation one. Maybe malarone is better.
I personally would not take doxycycline for months because it is a broad spectrum antibiotic and will wipe out your beneficial gut flora. I took it for 3 weeks once due to a stubborn sinus infection and I flared by the second week. I can't speak for others though. UC is worsened by dysbiosis and antibiotics do that, especially the broad spectrum ones *or* taking antibiotics long-term. As if that isn't bad enough, you'd be in a foreign country where food poisoning is a possibility and you'll want your gut flora in tact to protect you.
Just my two cents.
Neither drug is great but malaria is a total nightmare. In 2008 I got malaria when I visited Nepal. I was not taking prophylaxis because it was the low season. I was one of three people who got it in Pokhara and the surrounding region!!! My initial recovery took 3 weeks but I had dormant malaria organisms in my liver for 6 months that took forever to get rid of.