This drug is taken once a week, starting about 1 to 2 weeks before your trip and continuing for 4 weeks after. But chloroquine is rarely used anymore, because it no longer works against P. falciparum, the most common and dangerous type of malaria parasite.

This daily pill is usually the most affordable malaria drug. You start taking it 1 to 2 days before your trip and continue taking it for 4 weeks afterward. Side effects include upset stomach, bad reactions to the sun and, if you’re a woman, yeast infections.

There are several medications available to treat malaria, including chloroquine (Aralen); Artemether-lumefantrine (Coartem); Artesunate-amodiaquine (Amonate); Artesunate-mefloquine; Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine; Artesunate-sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), in areas with known SP sensitivity.