Malaria is one of the commonest illnesses in Nigeria. A recent research done in 2024 showed that seven to eight (7-8) persons out of ten (10) persons will test positive for Malaria in Nigeria, and over 98% of Nigerians are at risk of having Malaria.
Whether you live in a high-risk area or travel frequently within the country, knowing the best Malaria drugs in Nigeria can make a big difference in recovery and prevention.
This is important if you are looking at buying the medication over the counter at your local pharmacy store.
With so many brands and options in the Market, like Lonart, P-Alaxin, Amatem Forte, and Artequick, it can be confusing to know which one to buy.
This guide breaks down the best malaria tablets in Nigeria, explaining their active ingredients, how they work, common side effects, and how to use them safely.
This blog post was written to help you make informed choices, avoid drug misuse, and understand why some medications may be better for you than others.
Disclaimer!
This Article is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a doctor before starting any Malaria treatment. You can book an online consultation with a doctor now!
Understanding Malaria and Its Treatment
It is common Knowledge among average Nigerians that Malaria is caused by mosquito bites.
However, it is important to note that not all bites from mosquitoes will lead to you having Malaria. So you should not necessarily treat yourself for Malaria just because you had a mosquito bite.
Find out if you are likely to have Malaria using this short quiz.
Malaria is caused by parasites from the Plasmodium family.
It is transmitted through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes.
In Nigeria, the most common deadly type is ‘Plasmodium Falciparum’, responsible for the most severe cases and deaths.
Once the parasite is inside the body, it multiplies in the liver and red blood cells, leading to
- high temperature (fever)
- chills (cold)
- Headache
- General body weakness
- And in severe cases, organ failure and death.
Treating malaria properly is important because if you don’t treat it, it can get worse easily, especially in children and pregnant women.
Using good malaria drugs in Nigeria ensures that all the parasites are cleared from the body.
Also, if you do not treat your malaria properly, it can lead to drug resistance, where the malaria no longer responds to even the best malaria drugs in Nigeria. This makes it harder to cure future malaria infections in the future for everyone.
Which Malaria Drug is the Best in Nigeria?
Different Malaria strains and local resistance patterns affect which drugs work best in certain countries. For instance, a group of malaria drugs called ‘Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies (ACTs)’ is the best malaria drug in Nigeria.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) advise that you should always be tested for malaria before treatment and take the full course of prescribed medication to ensure complete recovery.
Best Malaria Tablets in Nigeria
Now, let us dive into the best Malaria drugs in Nigeria. Here you will see the list of the recommended malaria drugs in Nigeria according to the World Health Organization and the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control.
Artemether/Lumenfantrine
Advantages:
- Works very fast (within 24-48 hours)
- low resistance
- Short duration of treatment (complete treatment in just 3 days)
- Very safe and well-tolerated both for adults and children
- Very effective
Common Side Effects:
Most of these side effects are mild and short-lived, and they include;
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea/vomiting
- Tummy pain
- Weakness and tiredness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Allergy in rare cases
Duration of treatment:
- 3 days (6 doses; taken every 12 hours for 3 consecutive days)
- Take each dose with food or milk
Examples of Brands:
- Lonart
- Amatem softgel
- Coartem
- Arenax plus Forte
- Artix
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor before starting treatment
Dihydroartemisin/Piperaquine Phosphate
Advantages:
- One of the best malaria drugs if you have malaria drug resistance
- Provides longer protection against malaria for several weeks after treatment
- Easy to take; just once every day for 3 days
- Minimal side effects
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea/vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- General body weakness
- In rare cases, it can cause issues with your heart beating and allergies
Duration of treatment
- 3 days; Once every day for 3 consecutive days
Examples of Brands
- P-Alaxin
- Artequick (Artemisinin/Piperaquine)
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor before starting treatment
Artovaquone/Proguanil
Advantages:
- Can treat and prevent malaria
- Works for chloroquine-resistant malaria
- Easy to take; just once daily for 3 days
- Very fewer side effects
- Fast acting
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and tiredness
- In rare situations, it can cause allergies
Duration of treatment
- Once daily for 3 consecutive days
Examples of Brands
Malanil
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor
Artesunate/Amodiaquine
Advantages:
- Fast acting (24-48hrs)
- Long-lasting effect
- Easy to take; just once daily for 3 days
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
- General body weakness
- Itching and allergies in rare cases
Duration of treatment
- Once daily for 3 days
Examples of Brands
- Camosunate
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor
Artesunate/Mefloquine
Advantages
- Fast action and relief
- Long-lasting for several weeks after treatment
- Good for resistant malaria
- Easy to take; just 3 days of treatment.
Common Side Effects
- Nausea/vomiting
- Tummy pain
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- General body weakness
Duration of treatment
- Once daily for 3 days
Examples of Brands
- Artequin
- Ocuquin
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor
Artesunate/Sulfadoxine/Pyrimethamine
Advantages:
- Fast acting
- Prolonged protection against Malaria, preventing recurrence and reinfection for several weeks
- Treatment for just 3 days
- Best for preventing malaria in pregnant women
- Cheap and affordable
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal discomfort
- Diarrhea
- General body weakness
- Rashes and itching
- Allergy in rare cases
Duration of treatment
- Once daily for 3 days
Caution: Always confirm with a doctor
Which Malaria drug is the strongest?
It is easy to mistake the strength of a drug for its effectiveness.
The ‘strongest’ malaria doesn’t always mean ‘best’. The effectiveness of a Malaria drug depends on early treatment and proper dosage.
In severe cases of Malaria, your doctor will most likely use Artesunate injection for treatment in hospitals
Bonus: Preventing Malaria as a Nigerian:
The most effective way to treat malaria is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
If you are reading this, you should consider the following to reduce the risk of getting malaria;
- Get a mosquito net
- Use mosquito repellants like Odomos
- If you are traveling to heavily infested malaria regions, camps, villages, or bushes, use preventive drugs
- Always get tested before treating malaria
Common Questions People Ask
Are Malaria Tablets 100% effective?
No drug is 100% effective, not even the best malaria drugs in Nigeria listed above. The key to increasing the effectiveness of your treatment is to ensure that you complete your antimalarial medication as prescribed by your doctor.
What happens if you miss a Malaria pill?
Commonly, you might forget to take your malaria pill. If this happens to you, please do not take two tablets at once. Instead, take the missed dose as soon as you remember and continue the rest as prescribed by your doctor until you complete the treatment.
Can you buy malaria drugs without a prescription?
Sure, you can buy most medications in Nigeria without a prescription. However, you must verify your source; fake drugs are a problem in Nigeria.
Worried About the Side Effects of the Malaria Drugs?
I can understand that there are many side effects listed in the above-mentioned malaria drugs. However, you should know that not everyone will have these side effects. Always confirm with a doctor if you have any concerns before starting any malaria medication.