Travel Health treatments
Explore information about Travel Health. An independent doctor decides whether a prescription is appropriate. Dispensing and delivery depend on a valid prescription, the available route and an independent licensed pharmacy.
Choose a treatment to review
Pricing is indicative where shown. Final route, fulfilment, and whether treatment is clinically appropriate remain subject to independent doctor review. Check platform, independent doctor, pharmacy and delivery charges before payment. A listed medicine amount is not a complete route quotation.
Chloroquine
Chloroquine: malaria prevention, product-specific doses, resistance and important safety warnings. Independent medical assessment required.
Diamox (Acetazolamide)
Acetazolamide for altitude illness: guideline use, Spanish product limits, doses and safety warnings. Independent medical assessment required.
Doxycycline (Malaria Prevention)
Doxycycline malaria prevention: daily dosing, four-week continuation, sun sensitivity, interactions and product-specific precautions.
Lariam (Mefloquine)
Mefloquine malaria prevention: weekly dosing, psychiatric and neurological risks, contraindications and product-specific guidance.
Malarone (Atovaquone/Proguanil)
Malarone malaria prevention: adult and paediatric product distinctions, daily dosing, seven-day continuation and important safety warnings.
About travel health treatments
International travel from Europe to tropical, high-altitude, and other challenging environments exposes travellers to a range of health risks not typically encountered at home. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 22–64% of travellers to the developing world experience some form of health problem during or after their trip. Preparation with appropriate prophylactic medications can substantially reduce the risk of serious illness.
Malaria remains one of the most significant travel-associated infectious disease risks for Europeans visiting sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Asia, and Central and South America. Despite significant global progress, the WHO recorded an estimated 263 million malaria cases worldwide in 2023. Travellers who are not native to endemic regions have no immunity and are at high risk of severe disease if infected and untreated.
Altitude-related illness affects travellers ascending rapidly to high-altitude environments — typically above 2,500 metres. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the most common form, presenting with headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. More severe forms — high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) — are rare but life-threatening. Destinations such as the Himalayas, the Andes, and high-altitude plateaus in East Africa present meaningful risk for unacclimatised travellers.
Appropriate travel health preparation is destination-specific and must account for individual health factors including existing conditions, medications, pregnancy, and allergy status. An independent, qualified doctor is best placed to advise on the medications appropriate for each traveller’s specific itinerary and health profile.
Available treatments
The following prescription travel health medications are described here. Independent doctors make prescribing decisions. Licensed pharmacies dispense only where approved and available. This comparison is provided for informational purposes only.
| Medication | Active Ingredient | Indication | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone) | Atovaquone + Proguanil HCl | Malaria prophylaxis and treatment | Starts 1–2 days before travel; well-tolerated |
| Doxycycline | Doxycycline hyclate | Malaria prophylaxis | Daily dosing; photosensitivity; lower cost |
| Acetazolamide (Diamox) | Acetazolamide | Altitude sickness prevention/treatment | Not suitable for sulpha allergy |
Key distinctions:
- Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone): A combination antimalarial with a convenient short pre-travel start time and generally good tolerability profile. Suitable for short trips. Higher cost than doxycycline; selection depends on the destination and individual clinical assessment, including in chloroquine-sensitive regions.
- Doxycycline: A broad-spectrum antibiotic with antimalarial activity. Requires daily dosing started 1–2 days before travel. Causes photosensitivity (caution in sunny destinations). Lower cost than Malarone. Also provides some protection against other travel-related infections.
- Acetazolamide (Diamox): Used for prevention and treatment of acute mountain sickness. Available in standard and slow-release formulations. Contraindicated in patients with sulphonamide allergy, renal disease, or those taking certain other medications.
How to get travel health treatment online
Prescrivia operates as a technology intermediary. We do not prescribe medications, employ doctors, or sell medicines. Our platform collects your health assessment for review by an independent licensed prescriber.
The process:
-
Complete a health assessment — Answer a structured set of questions covering your destination(s), travel itinerary, trip duration, planned activities, current medications, medical history, and any allergies. Accurate destination information is essential for appropriate medication selection.
-
Independent doctor review — An independent doctor reviews your assessment. If travel health medication is clinically appropriate, the doctor may issue a prescription. If your itinerary or health profile indicates additional in-person consultation is needed, the doctor will advise accordingly.
-
Pharmacy fulfilment — A valid prescription does not guarantee dispensing or delivery. An independent licensed pharmacy checks lawful supply, stock and an available supply route for the destination country. Delivery before your travel date is not guaranteed.
Important: Prescrivia does not guarantee that a prescription will be issued. Prescribing decisions are made entirely by independent medical professionals. Allow sufficient time for delivery before your departure date.
How we compare
| Through Prescrivia | In-person travel health clinic | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Online assessment, subject to platform availability | Subject to appointment availability |
| Wait time | Review time depends on clinical needs and availability | Depends on appointment availability |
| Travel required | No | Yes |
| Prescribing decision | Made by independent doctor | Made by travel health specialist |
| Vaccination advice | Not currently included | Included |
| Cost | Transparent pricing displayed upfront | Varies by clinic and country |
Note: Travellers with complex itineraries, multiple destinations, immunocompromise, pregnancy, or chronic conditions should consider a specialist travel health clinic for comprehensive pre-travel assessment including vaccinations. Prescrivia’s platform is appropriate for straightforward travel health medication needs suitable for remote assessment.
Sources
Medical information on this page is based on the following sources:
- World Health Organization (WHO). International Travel and Health — WHO guidelines. who.int
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Travel health — disease fact sheets. ecdc.europa.eu
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Malarone (atovaquone/proguanil) — Summary of Product Characteristics. Available at: ema.europa.eu
Medical information may change as clinical guidance is updated. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for advice relevant to your individual health circumstances and specific travel destination.
Availability, dispensing and delivery depend on the country, clinical assessment, pharmacy and applicable law. A Spanish-language page does not establish eligibility for supply in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I get travel health medication online before my trip?
- Yes. Through Prescrivia, you can complete a travel health assessment reviewed by an independent doctor. Where prescription medications such as antimalarials or altitude sickness treatment are clinically appropriate, the doctor may issue a prescription. A pharmacy may dispense after confirming a valid prescription, applicable requirements, stock and availability for the destination. Dispensing and delivery are not guaranteed.
- Which antimalarial should I take?
- The appropriate antimalarial depends on your destination, the malaria species prevalent in that region, your health profile, and the duration of your trip. Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) is commonly used for short trips to high-risk regions. Doxycycline is effective and lower cost but requires daily dosing and causes photosensitivity. An independent doctor will assess which is most suitable for you.
- How far in advance should I get travel health medication?
- Ideally, a travel health consultation should occur at least 4–6 weeks before departure. Some vaccines (not covered by Prescrivia's current service) require multiple doses with intervals. Antimalarials such as doxycycline and atovaquone/proguanil are typically started 1–2 days before travel, while mefloquine (where used) requires 2–3 weeks before departure.
- What is acetazolamide and when is it used for altitude sickness?
- Acetazolamide (Diamox) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to prevent and treat acute mountain sickness (AMS). It works by stimulating faster breathing, which improves acclimatisation. It is typically considered for travellers ascending rapidly to altitudes above 2,500–3,000 metres. A doctor will assess whether it is appropriate based on your itinerary and health profile.
- Does Prescrivia cover travel vaccinations?
- Prescrivia's platform currently focuses on prescription medications rather than travel vaccinations. For vaccination advice, we recommend consulting a travel health clinic or your local healthcare provider well in advance of travel.
Intermediary notice: Prescrivia connects patients with independent doctors and licensed pharmacies. We do not provide medical advice, employ doctors, or sell medicines. All medical decisions are made by independent healthcare professionals, and prescription-only medicines require a valid prescription. Treatment is not guaranteed — whether a prescription is issued depends on an independent doctor's clinical assessment.
Ready to begin your assessment?
Complete a short health assessment and, where clinically appropriate, connect with an independent doctor for review.
Prescrivia is not a doctor or pharmacy — it is a technology platform. Any prescription decision is made by an independent doctor; medicines are dispensed by licensed pharmacies only where available.