mefloquine

What it means

1. uncountablemedicineAn antimalarial drug C₁₇H₁₆F₆N₂O similar to quinine that consists of a fluorinated derivative of quinoline and is used in the form of its hydrochloride for the prevention and treatment of malaria.

   I take thalazole to control the stools, mefloquine for the malaria.

   2007, Teju Cole, Every Day is for the Thief, Faber & Faber (2015), page 154

   2 more examples

   The same year the UN banned mefloquine for peacekeeping troops in Cambodia because of concern about the drug's "neuropsychiatric side effects… in military personnel".

   2002 October 24, Mark Honigsbaum, “'It's not a benign drug—it has ruined my life'”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Drug-Interactions: Several anti-malaria drugs, such as mefloquine, chloroquine and proguanil (not approved for use in US) possess antibacterial activity which may interfere with the immunogenicity of Vivotif.

   2013 September 28, Vivotif Package Insert USA, Food and Drug Administration, retrieved 05 Dec 2025, page 4

   Synonyms: Lariam

In a sentence

The same year the UN banned mefloquine for peacekeeping troops in Cambodia because of concern about the drug's "neuropsychiatric side effects… in military personnel".

2002 October 24, Mark Honigsbaum, “'It's not a benign drug—it has ruined my life'”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*médʰu
2. Proto-Hellenic*métʰu
3. Ancient Greekμέθυ (méthu)
4. Proto-Indo-European*swel-der.?
5. Ancient Greekῡ̔́λη (hū́lē)
6. GermanMethy
7. Englishme(thyl)
8. Proto-Indo-European*bʰel-
9. Proto-Indo-European*bʰlewH-
10. Proto-Indo-European*bʰluH-yé-ti?
11. Latinfluō
12. Latinfluor
13. Englishfl(uor)o-
14. Englishmefloquine

From me(thyl) (“quinoline derivative”) + fl(uor)o- + -quine.