This story published in 2004 by the United Press International discloses the U.S. military's refusal to acknowledge that the antimalaria drug they commissioned a pharmaceutical company develop, in 1988, to prevent troops deployed on tropical missions from dying from malaria does indeed produce a nightmare of horrendous consequences. In light of today's scientific findings of what this drug does to the mind of those who are vulnerable to its chemical damage, our troops, and I mean all those coalition forces sent into the war on terrorism, deserve our best care and support, not more exposure to callous abuse of their rights. As far as I am concerned, governments that sanction drugs and weapons that cause colateral damage among their own forces are nothing short of war criminals themselves. After growing evidence and studies reported on this virulent drug, I'm sorry to report that in 2010 Mefloquine or Larium is still issued to our troops. How many lives have to be shattered before the military takes responsibility for its decisions and actions?
Warning: According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration warnings, Lariam (or mefloquine), an anti-malaria drug invented by the U.S. Army, is associated with a family of drugs with known mental side effects, specifically quinolone. Lariam can cross the "blood-brain barrier" and dissolve in the fatty tissue of the brain. The FDA says Lariam can cause suicidal thinking, aggression, delusions and psychosis. The FDA also says that, for some people, the side effects have been reported to last long after taking the drug and their reaction becomes dangerous if they drink alcohol during that period as well.
Might I remind every trooper that this story could be about you because none of you know whether you are vulnerable or not until you have taken the mefloquine treatment to prevent you from dying of the most virulent form of malaria. The risk of dying from malaria may be preferrable to the side effects this treatment causes. Read and be forewarned. You have the right to refuse to take mefloquine or Larium as it is also called.
Soldier's suicide traced to antimalaria drug
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