§2.6.7 · Chemicals › Dissociatives

Mefloquine

Also known as Lariam · Mephaquin · Mefliam

Acute: High riskDependency: Moderate risk

Images

Quick reference

Routes

Oral

Form

Pill

Shulgin rating

++ I searched long and hard, visiting over a dozen pharmacies, to find a box of lariam (to photograph). I eventually found this one in an international airport.

Duration

Onset

See below

Total duration

—

Experience

Primary effects

Mefloquine is primarily an antimalarial drug, but it can induce a range of unwanted psychiatric and neurological side effects.
Perceptual disturbances may include nightmares, visual and auditory hallucinations, and a subtle sense of being 'distant' or 'off'.

Peak character

The experience is generally unpleasant, characterized by disturbing, vivid, and sometimes hallucinogenic dreams that can recur.
Psychological effects can include anxiety, depression, unusual behavior, and suicidal ideation, making the experience distressing.

Negatives / side effects

Serious side effects encompass long-term mental health problems such as severe depression, persistent anxiety, and hallucinations.
Neurological issues like poor balance, seizures, and tinnitus are possible. Overdosing or recreational use carries extremely high risks, including fatalities.
The drug can cause profound and often adverse psychoactive-like effects, sometimes including a sense of dissociation, which are frequently described as awful.

Aftereffects / comedown

The drug has a long half-life, meaning effects can linger in the system for an extended period, albeit with decreasing intensity.

Reagent testing

Recommended reagents

Marquis Mandelin

Expected reactions

Marquis	No reaction / faint
Mandelin	No reaction / faint yellow

Adulterant detection: Antimalarial — limited colorimetric reactivity. Not typically found in illicit drug supply.

Antimalarial drug; no reliable colorimetric test. Prescription sourcing is the safety measure.

Source

Reference fields and narrative for Mefloquine extracted from The Drug Users Bible by Dominic Milton Trott (MxZero Publishing, 2022).

drugusersbible.com

Harm reduction notice

This platform provides educational and harm-reduction information adapted from public reference material. It does not endorse, encourage, or facilitate drug use. It is not medical advice. If you or someone near you may be in a medical emergency, contact local emergency services immediately.