You should not use Diamox if you have cirrhosis, severe liver or kidney disease, an electrolyte imbalance, adrenal gland failure, or an allergy to Diamox or sulfa drugs.

Who should not take acetazolamide?

You should not use acetazolamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have: severe liver disease, or cirrhosis; severe kidney disease; an electrolyte imbalance (such as acidosis or low levels of potassium or sodium in your blood);

What is the most severe adverse effect of acetazolamide?

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: tingling of the hands/feet, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, unusual tiredness, easy bleeding/bruising, fast/irregular heartbeat, muscle cramps/pain, new or worsening eye pain, decrease in vision, mental/mood changes (such as confusion, ...

Does Diamox affect blood pressure?

Acetazolamide Reduces Blood Pressure and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Patients With Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Is Diamox safe for diabetics?

This drug may infrequently make your blood sugar levels rise, causing or worsening diabetes. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of high blood sugar such as increased thirst or tiredness. If you already have diabetes, be sure to check your blood sugar levels regularly.

Should you take Diamox on your trek?

26 related questions found

What medications interact with acetazolamide?

Acetazolamide may interact with cisapride, methenamine, anticonvulsants, other diuretics, cyclosporine, digoxin, drugs for diabetes, drugs that cause loss of potassium, lithium, memantine, procainamide, quinidine, aspirin and other salicylates, sodium bicarbonate, stimulants, or tricyclic antidepressants.

What are the long term effects of taking Diamox?

Diamox may worsen chronic liver disease. People with severe chronic lung disease may experience more breathing difficulty while taking Diamox. Diamox can make sunburn more likely. People should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight while on Diamox, especially if they get sunburned easily.

Can Diamox cause kidney problems?

Serious side effects are rare, but acetazolamide may induce adverse reactions in several organs and systems. In the central nervous system, it causes drowsiness, depression, malaise, fatigue, and paresthesia, while in the kidney, it causes polyuria, metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte imbalance [2, 5].

Does acetazolamide increase heart rate?

Changes in heart rate during acetazolamide application were -23 +/- 6, -20 +/- 8, and -26 +/- 6 beats min-1, respectively. The decreases in respiratory rate were 9 +/- 2 (A), 11 +/- 2 (B), and 11 +/- 2 breaths min-1 (C).

Can acetazolamide cause hypotension?

Once acetazolamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase, sodium, bicarbonate, and chloride get excreted rather than reabsorbed; this also leads to the excretion of excess water. The clinical result is a decrease in blood pressure, decreased intracranial pressure, and decreased intraocular pressure.

What are the common side effects of Diamox?

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or increased urination may occur, especially during the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. Blurred vision, dry mouth, drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in taste may also occur.

What can you take instead of Diamox?

You can take Ibuprofen every four to six hours only if needed. Do not take more than 1,000 mg of ibuprofen daily. Take ibuprofen with food or after meals if it seems to bother your stomach. Ibuprofen does get absorbed by the blood stream much faster than Diamox making it a quick acting drug.

How many Diamox can I take a day?

The recommended dosage is 1 capsule (500 mg) two times a day. Usually 1 capsule is administered in the morning and 1 capsule in the evening. It may be necessary to adjust the dose, but it has usually been found that dosage in excess of 2 capsules (1 g) does not produce an increased effect.

What are contraindications of acetazolamide?

Acetazolamide is contraindicated in patients with electrolyte imbalance (e.g., hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hyperchloremia), acid/base imbalance (metabolic acidosis, acidemia), or adrenal insufficiency. Acetazolamide is contraindicated in patients with severe renal disease (renal failure, anuria).

Can Diamox cause shortness of breath?

Diamox side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have: blood in urine or stools; a seizure (convulsions);

What does acetazolamide do to your body?

Acetazolamide decreases the pressure in the eye. Acetazolamide is also used to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms (upset stomach, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue) of altitude (mountain) sickness.

Can a heart patient take Diamox?

Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Your dose of this medicine will depend on the condition you are treating. If you take acetazolamide for congestive heart failure, your doctor may tell you to skip your medication for a day.

Is acetazolamide a vasoconstrictor?

Acetazolamide (AZ), a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used for preventing altitude illness attenuates hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) while improving oxygenation.

How does Diamox reduce eye pressure?

Acetazolamide works by blocking the action of an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. Blocking this enzyme reduces the amount of fluid (called aqueous humour) that you make in the front part of your eye, and this helps to lower the pressure within your eye.

How does Diamox work for intracranial hypertension?

Acetazolamide. Acetazolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, is thought to decrease cerebrospinal fluid production and thereby decrease ICP, leading to improved symptoms and signs of IIH.

Does Diamox cause weight gain?

Common adverse effects of acetazolamide include tingling,palinopsia, dizziness, diuresis, tiredness, confusion, anorexia, and weight loss. One of the common adverse effects of the antipsychotic drugs is weight gain and metabolic adverse effects.

How long should I take Diamox?

Dose. Take one 125 mg tablet twice a day. Begin this medicine 24 hours before arriving at high altitude and continue for 48 hours while at high altitude. You may continue taking Diamox up to 48 hours longer if your symptoms indicate the need for additional pills.

What is Diamox 500 used for?

Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters).

Is tinnitus a side effect of Diamox?

Side effects include: Paresthesias, hearing dysfunction or tinnitus, anorexia, altered taste, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, polyuria, drowsiness, confusion.

Can I take acetazolamide and spironolactone together?

Acetazolamide can be used to correct metabolic alkalosis that may result with the use of loop diuretics. Acetazolamide, when given together with a loop diuretic and spironolactone, may result in synergistic diuretic response effecting sequential nephron blockade of sodium reabsorption.