Lariam (Mefloquine) Claims

In 2016, the Defence Committee concluded that the MoD’s handling of Lariam amounted to a fundamental failure in its duty of care. The Committee’s formal report, titled “An acceptable risk? The use of Lariam for military personnel”, called the MoD’s approach “totally unacceptable” in light of the drug’s dangers​.

In September 2016, it introduced a new policy for anti-malarial prescribing, essentially adopting a “Lariam-last-resort” approach. For example, in 2013 over 3,000 personnel received Lariam, but by 2017 the number was under 100, and in recent years it has been close to zero.

Such figures underscore that what happened with Lariam was a grave institutional failing, and they reinforce that you deserved far better.

Injuries and Symptoms Linked to Lariam Use

It has become clear that Lariam can cause a range of serious injuries and psychiatric conditions. Affected personnel have reported a spectrum of symptoms, often overlapping and compounding each other. Some of the common injuries and conditions linked to Lariam include:

• PTSD-Like Symptoms: Intrusive nightmares, night sweats, heightened startle responses, irritability, and flashback-like vivid dreams. These symptoms mirror classic post-traumatic stress disorder, except they were triggered chemically by Lariam rather than by combat. Sufferers describe ongoing mental trauma and sleep disturbance long after the drug was taken​. This has led to misdiagnoses in some cases, with Lariam toxicity initially mistaken for PTSD from service.
• Chronic Anxiety and Panic Disorders: Many veterans developed severe anxiety, including constant nervousness, panic attacks, and phobias, after taking Lariam. Simple tasks could induce disproportionate fear. This anxiety often co-exists with depression, forming a debilitating combination.
• Depressive Disorders: Persistent low mood, loss of interest, feelings of hopelessness, and in acute cases suicidal ideation, have been widely reported. In the worst cases, Lariam has been cited as a factor in self-harm and attempted suicides. It is worth noting that even Roche’s patient information leaflet warns of possible suicide risk – underlining how serious this side effect is.
• Psychosis and Hallucinations: A number of affected ex-service personnel experienced episodes of psychosis – such as hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusional thinking, or paranoia – either while on Lariam or in the period following its use. These episodes can be terrifying and stigmatising. Some soldiers reported aggressive or violent behaviour during these reactions, which they have no memory of afterwards. Hallucinations and paranoia are documented side effects of Lariam in medical literature and can understandably lead to significant personal and professional consequences if not recognised as drug-induced.
• Cognitive Impairment and Memory Problems: Lariam’s neurotoxic effects sometimes manifest as short-term memory loss, confusion, and difficulty concentrating​. Veterans have spoken of suddenly being unable to remember basic things or feeling like their mind was “in a fog” after taking the drug. In an operational environment, such cognitive lapses can be dangerous. Long-term, they affect quality of life, for instance, interfering with the ability to work or study.
• Neurological and Physical Symptoms: Beyond psychology, Lariam has been associated with dizziness, loss of balance, headaches, tremors, and visual disturbances (such as blurred vision or seeing flashing lights)​. Some have developed tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or fine motor skill problems. These symptoms indicate that the drug can affect the brain’s physical functioning. In rare cases, there have been concerns about whether Lariam exposure could contribute to lasting neurological conditions, though research is ongoing.

The drug’s reputation in the Armed Forces became so infamous that some soldiers would avoid taking it altogether: the Committee noted that many troops were so afraid of Lariam’s effects they discarded the tablets rather than risk the side effects, even if it meant going without malaria protection. This speaks volumes about how real and severe the side effects could be.

Each person’s experience is unique – you may have one, several, or all of the above symptoms. What is important to stress is that these conditions are recognised as potentially Lariam-related injuries in the context of legal claims. In other words, if you suffer from any of these problems after taking Lariam during service, they constitute the “injury” for which you can seek compensation and support. Your suffering has a name and a cause, and you have every right to demand accountability for it. If you have experienced any of these symptoms during or after your service, it is both understandable and heartbreaking. You might have been told initially that it was “just stress” or that the illness was unrelated to Lariam. However, evidence now clearly validates your experiences and there is support available to address these health issues and hold the proper parties accountable.

The MoD’s Duty of Care and Informed Consent

Under UK law and military policy, the Ministry of Defence owes a duty of care to safeguard the health of servicemembers. This duty of care includes providing necessary medical protection (like anti-malarial drugs) while also minimising harm. Service personnel, though subject to military orders, retain the right to medical care that meets proper standards – they should be treated with the same ethical considerations as any patient in the NHS. In the context of Lariam, that means the MoD and its medical officers had an obligation to fully inform each individual of the medication’s risks and to use it safely and appropriately.

Tragically, this duty was not upheld. The 2016 parliamentary inquiry found systemic failures in how Lariam was prescribed, amounting to a breach of the MoD’s duty of care.

Informed consent is a cornerstone of medical law in the UK – patients should be told about serious risks of a treatment and given a choice whenever possible. Military personnel might expect that in an operational setting some choices are constrained, but that does not excuse failing to warn them about a drug’s potential to cause psychological injury. The MoD’s own policy now (post-2016) reflects this: each individual must be made aware of Lariam’s risks and offered an alternative. This policy change acknowledges that service members should have had a say – if a soldier knew they were prone to nightmares or had a family history of mental illness, they should have been able to opt for a different malaria tablet. Many veterans have since said that had they known the true risks, they would never have agreed to take Lariam.

Furthermore, military medical officers are held to professional standards just like civilian doctors. Prescribing a medication with known serious side effects without proper screening or warning could be considered negligence under those standards. The fact that Lariam was issued in ways that bypassed standard medical safeguards (like obtaining the patient’s history and consent) is deeply concerning. What does this mean for you? It means that the harm you suffered was not your fault – it was the result of the MoD’s lapse in its legal and moral obligations to you. You had every reason to trust the medication given to you. The military chain of command should have ensured your safety with proper medical oversight. When that chain of trust broke, the responsibility lies with those who failed to follow the guidelines, not with you as the patient.

Compensation Claims for Lariam Victims

If Lariam has caused you harm, you have avenues to pursue justice and compensation. There are two main paths to consider: the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) and civil litigation (a legal claim against the MoD). It’s important to understand the differences, as well as why many are now focusing on civil claims with the help of specialist solicitors.

1. Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS): The AFCS is a no-fault compensation scheme run by the UK government for injuries attributable to service. You do not have to prove negligence under this scheme – only that your condition is predominantly caused by military service (Lariam-induced illnesses would generally qualify). The AFCS provides set compensation amounts (tariffs) based on the severity of the injury. It can also provide a Guaranteed Income Payment for very serious disablement. However, the AFCS has limitations: claims usually must be made within 7 years of the injury (or of leaving service), and the payment amounts are often lower than what could be obtained through a civil lawsuit. Moreover, the AFCS does not assign fault or require the MoD to admit any wrongdoing. While you can consider an AFCS claim if you are within the time limit which can provide quicker, no-fault payouts – civil claims potentially offer much fuller redress.

2. Civil Litigation (Negligence Claims): A civil claim against the Ministry of Defence for Lariam-related harm is essentially a personal injury claim based on negligence. In a civil claim, you (the claimant) allege that the MoD breached its duty of care by prescribing Lariam improperly (for example, without informed consent or adequate screening) and that this breach caused your injury. Unlike the AFCS, civil litigation can hold the MoD explicitly accountable for its failures and can lead to a more personalised compensation award. You can claim for pain and suffering, lost earnings, cost of medical treatment, and other losses that resulted from your Lariam-induced illness – sums that may well exceed the AFCS tariff for similar conditions.

Over the past few years, hundreds of affected veterans have come forward to pursue civil claims. As of early 2024, the government confirmed that a total of 686 common law (civil) claims have been filed against the MoD for Lariam side effects. These claims are essentially saying what you may be feeling: that the MoD wronged its people by failing to protect them from a known danger. For you, this means there is momentum and precedent. Others have paved the way.  

Starting a Claim

What should you do to pursue a claim? First, it’s advisable to consult a specialist solicitor experienced in military injury or product liability cases. These cases can be complex, involving both medical evidence and military policies. A knowledgeable solicitor can review your service and medical records, help gather evidence that Lariam caused your condition, and advise on the best course (AFCS, civil claim, or both). There may be time limits (typically three years from the date you first knew your illness was linked to Lariam) for starting a civil claim, so obtaining legal advice sooner rather than later is wise. Your solicitor may recommend getting an independent medical assessment by a psychiatrist or neurologist familiar with mefloquine toxicity to support your case. They will also have to demonstrate negligence – which, thanks to the Defence Committee’s findings and the MoD’s own admissions, is a well-documented issue. The central arguments will be that the MoD failed to follow the established guidelines (e.g. Roche’s guidance and the MoD’s duty to warn) and that this failure led to your suffering. Given the official records, such as the parliamentary report describing the MoD’s practices as a failure in duty of care​, your legal team will have strong material to work with. Finally, if you already received an AFCS payment, you should inform your solicitor. It might still be possible to pursue a civil claim (the two are not mutually exclusive), but any compensation you obtained from the AFCS could be taken into account.

If you believe you have been affected by Lariam, we strongly encourage you to take action now. This is not only about financial compensation (though you deserve that); it is also about acknowledgement and accountability. Pursuing a claim can lead to recognition of the wrong you endured and can help ensure no future generation of soldiers suffers the same fate. It can also connect you with medical experts and support services as part of the claims process, guiding you toward the help you need. Remember, seeking legal advice does not commit you to anything – it simply empowers you with knowledge. Given what you have been through, you deserve to have all the information and support possible. With the right support, you can reclaim a sense of justice and get the help you need to move forward from the shadow that Lariam has cast over your life.

Larium FAQs

What is Lariam?

Lariam is the brand name for mefloquine, a prescription-only anti-malarial drug. It is used to prevent and treat malaria in individuals travelling to or stationed in high-risk areas. In the UK, it has been licensed for use since the 1990s but is now prescribed with significant caution due to the serious side effects reported by some patients.

How does Lariam work?

Lariam works by interfering with the growth of malaria parasites in the red blood cells. It is usually taken once a week and is effective against Plasmodium falciparum, the most dangerous form of the malaria parasite.

Why are there concerns about Lariam?

Lariam has been linked to serious neuropsychiatric side effects, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts. In some cases, these symptoms have persisted long after the drug was discontinued. The concerns are particularly significant for military personnel, who are often required to take the drug without adequate screening or supervision. The manufacturer, Roche, and various health authorities have acknowledged the risks, which has led to stricter guidance on its use.

How would I know if I was prescribed Lariam while in service?

If you were in the Armed Forces and deployed to a malaria-risk area, you may have been issued Lariam without being fully informed. Not all service members recall the names of the medications they were given. To find out, you can request a copy of your Service Medical Records from the MoD. These records should contain details of any anti-malarial drugs you were prescribed. If Lariam is listed or if you were given a weekly tablet for malaria prevention it is worth exploring further, particularly if you experienced psychological or neurological symptoms during or after your deployment.

What should I do if I am concerned about having taken Lariam?

If you suspect you were prescribed Lariam and have suffered from mental health or neurological symptoms that could be linked to the drug, it is important to:

• Speak with your GP or a medicalprofessional to have your symptoms assessed and documented.
• Request your full, service medical records to confirm whether Lariam was administered.
• Seek legal advice from a solicitor experienced in military injury or medical negligence claims.

Can I bring a claim if I was affected by Lariam?

Yes. If you were prescribed Lariam during your military service and suffered harmful side effects, especially without adequate medical screening or explanation of the risks, you may be able to pursue a military injury claim. This could include damages for pain and suffering, loss of earnings, medical treatment, and other related losses. A legal professional will assess your individual circumstances, including your medical records and deployment history, to determine whether you have a viable case.

Can family members of affected veterans make a claim?

In some circumstances, family members may be able to bring a claim, particularly if the individual affected by Lariam has died or is incapacitated. This could be through a fatal accident claim or a claim on behalf of someone who lacks mental capacity. Legal advice should be sought to establish whether such a claim can be pursued.