Mefloquine is a synthetic antimalarial drug used primarily for the prevention and treatment of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. It belongs to the quinoline-methanol class and works by interfering with the parasite’s ability to digest hemoglobin, leading to its death. Developed in the 1970s by the U.S. Army to address chloroquine-resistant malaria strains, mefloquine quickly became a key option for both prophylaxis and therapy in endemic regions. Introduced commercially in the 1980s, it has been widely used by travelers, military personnel, and populations in high-risk areas due to its long half-life, which allows for once-weekly dosing for prevention. Despite concerns about neuropsychiatric side effects in some individuals, mefloquine remains an important tool in malaria control, valued for its efficacy against resistant strains and its role in global malaria management programs.
