Is the anti malaria medication Chloroquin effective and safe to use in pregnancy?

I'm travelling to Zanzibar and will be eight weeks pregnant. There are conflicting opinions on two anti malaria tablets for me to take - Chloroquin and Mefloquin...which one is safest and will be most effective in Zanzibar?

Quotations directly from both data sheets.

Chloroquine should not be used during pregnancy unless, in the judgement of the physician, potential benefit outweighs the risk.

There is too little clinical experience in humans to assess any possible damaging effects of mefloquin during pregnancy. However, mefloquine is teratogenic when administered to rats and mice in early gestation. Therefore, mefloquin should be used in pregnancy only if there are compelling medical reasons. In the absence of clinical experience, prophylactic use during pregnancy should be avoided as a matter of principle.

I would get your doctor to check the specific local area you are travelling to in Zanzibar, in order to decide on the least worst choice. In General Mefloquin is the more toxic drug and has demonstrated that it can damage the animal foetus.

I know it's a pain but really you need to speak with your doctor as there could be reasons for not taking one or both of the drugs. Get advice just to be certain.

No, it should not see the link to the FDA information (its quite technical though) see page 3 usage during pregnancy. For Chlroquine Basically what it says is only use it if you have malaria. Best bet is to talk to your doctor, Malaria is really bad and if you get it you could die or cause serious damage to your unborn child so please find a product that can be used.
For Mefloquine similar advise you need page 2 of the document :summary of product characteristics

You really need to speak to your doctor. You have the catch 22 situation here, you could be damned if you do, damned if you don't! lol! I know we had a friend who did not travel with us as she was pregnant, and going to a malarial risk country.

The best person really to give you advise is your GP. Also maybe try a google search on the two brands, and pregnancy and see what comes up.

Enjoy your holiday and your pregnancy!

You really should talk to your doctor before you do anything.

here is what the CDC says:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/mal_preg_pub.h...