ALCON,
For all who can positively confirm they took the weekly antimalarial drug mefloquine otherwise known as Lariam and who continue to have the long term side effects listed below, call the VA War Related Illness and Injury Study Center in East Orange, New Jersey at…..800-248-8005….and ask either Josette, Deborah, or Don to snail mail you the “environmental assessment package for mefloquine” to start the clinical intake process. You will need a referral from your VA primary care physician to then be sent to New Jersey. Josette and the team are standing by to assist you educate you VA docs on this disorder.
Possible symptoms:
unsteadiness on your feet – tend to fall over when standing still
cannot walk heel to toe in a straight line (when sober)
sensitivity to bright and flashing lights
Sensitivity to loud noises
Random dizziness and room spinning vertigo attacks in different head positions
avoid crowds
quick to anger
bladder and bowel problems
always forgetful
easily frustrated when interrupted when doing complicated tasks
For a more complete list go to:
http://vestibular.org/understanding-...order/symptoms
Be advised that the CDC and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health recently reported that the permanent side effects of mefloquine toxicity can confound the diagnosis of PTSD and TBI. However these are separate diagnoses that occur independently, therefore a person can be diagnosed with any combination of these disorders.
If you are currently on active duty, we can get you to either Balboa Naval Hospital and/or Bethesda for a full workup. The USSASOC command surgeon is on board.
If you have any more specific questions, send me a message through this site.
CDR Bill Manofsky USN(ret)