Generic Name: Acetazolamide
Brand Name: Diamox, Diamox Sequels

What is Acetazolamide?

Acetazolamide is used in the treatment of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eyeballs), it decreases the pressure in the eye. It is also used in cases of epilepsy (for seizures of both brief and unlocalized kind) and fluid retention due to congestive heart failure or drugs. Acetazolamide controls fluid secretion.

Acetazolamide is a potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Carbonic anhydrase is a protein in your body. Acetazolamide reduces the activity of this protein.

This drug is also used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of acute mountain sickness in climbers attempting a rapid climb and those who feel sick even though they are making a gradual climb.

How to take Acetazolamide?

This medication may be taken with food or milk to reduce stomach upset. Your dosage depends on your medical condition and response to this drug. This drug may reduce the potassium levels in your blood. A potassium supplement may be prescribed by your doctor. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

If you are taking Acetazolamide for mountain sickness, take the first dose 24 to 48 hours before you start the climb. Continue to take it while at high altitude.

If you are unable to swallow the tablets, a liquid can be made by softening (or crushing) a tablet in 2 teaspoonfuls of water and adding 2 teaspoonfuls of honey or syrup. This liquid should be made just before the dose is taken.

Special care may be needed regarding the use of this medicine in children; contact your pediatrician or health care professional.

What are the side effects of Acetazolamide?

Side effects from Acetazolamide are not common, but they can occur. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• upset stomach
• loss of appetite
• vomiting

If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
drowsiness

• numbness and tingling
• increased thirst and urination
• sore throat
• headache
• confusion
• fever
• rash
• blood in urine
• painful urination
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• seizures

Warnings and precautions before taking Acetazolamide:

• Ask your prescriber or health care professional about your potassium level. It is important that you don’t have too little or too much potassium. You may need to take a potassium supplement or eat foods that are high in potassium if acetazolamide is making your body lose too much potassium.

• Do not stop taking Acetazolamide all of a sudden if you are taking it to prevent seizures. Your prescriber or health care professional may want you to reduce your dose gradually.

• You may get a little drowsy; until you know how Acetazolamide affects you, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness.

• Keep it in mind to drink several glasses of water a day. This will help to reduce possible kidney problems.

• If you are diabetic, monitor blood and urine sugar and ketones regularly. Acetazolamide can increase sugar levels. Check with your doctor or health care professional if you notice any changes.

• Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Acetazolamide may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

Who should not take Acetazolamide?

• Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Acetazolamide, sulfa drugs, diuretics ('water pills'), or any other drugs. 

• Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially amphetamines, aspirin, cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), medications for depression or irregular heartbeat, diflunisal (Dolobid), digoxin (Lanoxin), diuretics ('water pills'), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), and vitamins.

What to do if you take missed a dose of Acetazolamide?

• You may take the missed dose as soon as you remember it, but if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed one.

How to store Acetazolamide?

• Store away from heat, direct light, and moisture.
• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Do not keep expired medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

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