Travel
Mefloquine and your FAA medical
Malaria medication
Other names: Lariam
FAA guidance
Do not issue.
Wait
4 weeks
after the last dose
Examiner
Do not issue: the examiner cannot issue a certificate
The FAA calls mefloquine absolutely disqualifying for pilots: a pilot who uses it is disqualified for pilot duties for the duration of use and for 4 weeks after the last dose.
Track your medicationsMore detail: mefloquineThe rest of Crosscheck's reading, in plain wordsOpen
Before returning to flight duties the pilot must contact the FAA or their aviation medical examiner, and there must be no history of neurologic or psychiatric symptoms during or after mefloquine use.
- 28 days after the last dose: ground observation
Show the FAA's words: mefloquineThe official FAA wording: one passage, each with its document and dateOpen
This medication is absolutely disqualifying for pilots. Mefloquine (Lariam) is associated with adverse neuropsychiatric side-effects, even weeks after the drug is discontinued. Because of the association with adverse neuropsychiatric side-effects, even weeks after discontinuation, a pilot who elects to use mefloquine for malaria prophylaxis or who contracts malaria and is treated with mefloquine will be disqualified for pilot duties for the duration of use of mefloquine and for 4 weeks after the last dose. In this instance, the pilot must contact the FAA or his/her Aviation Medical Examiner prior to returning to flight duties after use.
Use of mefloquine must be discontinued for at least 4 weeks prior to consideration and:
For return to pilot duties there must be no history of neurologic or psychiatric symptoms during and or after mefloquine use.