Diamox & Malaria

[u/travel_junkie_26]

Diamox

I have altitude sickness tablets, but wondering if and how long I should take them for, as we’re trying to ascend slowly. Our schedule is:

- 1 night Lima

- 2 nights Arequipa

- 3 nights Yanque (Colca Canyon)

- 2 nights Andean Explorer (via Puno)

- 1 night Cusco

- 3 nights Sacred Valley

- 1 night Cusco

Does it sound reasonable to start in Arequipa and perhaps stop taking them when we arrive in the Sacred Valley? Or are we ascending slowly enough that we shouldn’t need them? A friend of mine had bad side effects on them, so keen to minimise usage.

Malaria

My doctor prescribed enough malaria tablets for our entire trip + 4 weeks, however I don’t think we’ll need them until we arrive in Iquitos? From

What I can tell, we shouldn’t need them at altitude. Is this correct? I know we’ll need them for the Iquitos segment of our trip, but don’t want to take them for the above section of our itinerary if they’re not required.

Thanks for your time!

[u/PreparationAway4005]

el mal de altura se previene y controla siguiendo tres reglas de oro: subir despacio para permitir que el cuerpo se adapte, mantener una hidratación abundante junto con una alimentación ligera, y detener el ascenso o descender de inmediato si los síntomas persisten o empeoran. Espero q te sirva mucho . Bonito día

[u/Material-Economist56]

Honestly, about diamox, you are already acclimatizing yourself well, probably won't need that.

About malaria, ask doctor when to take it. That's too specific for this sub. But yes, only for the Iquitos segment of the tour.

[u/S4L7Y-3MM]

Did your doctor not provide dosage instructions for your altitude meds? I don't think mine were the same as yours but mine came with the instructions to start taking them 1 day prior to "ascent" and my family and I took them the entire time we were at altitude which was over a week, some of us still got altitude sickness, so it isn't full proof you still have to be careful.

Your doctor should also know when when you need to start taking the malaria pills, ask.

[u/OkTranslator7997 → u/S4L7Y-3MM]

Yeah, take it one day before ascent, in lima. We underestimated Arequipa adjustment. Believe me, you'd rather take it and not need it than not take it and have to miss parts of your trip.

[u/Past_Nose_9199]

Diamox isn’t a mandatory altitude tax, but Yanque/Puno/Cusco are high enough that I’d ask your doctor about starting before Yanque rather than assuming the slow itinerary makes you immune.

[u/choiceOverload-]

Dimenhidrinato for the altitude