Key facts about Acetazolamide
What dosages is Acetazolamide available in?
Acetazolamide is available as a 125 mg and 250 mg oral tablet.
What is Acetazolamide used for?
Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and is used to treat altitude sickness (mountain sickness), glaucoma, edema (swelling in the body due to fluid buildup), and epilepsy (petit mal, unlocalized seizures).
How does Acetazolamide work?
Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that affects your body’s fluid and acid-base balance. For altitude sickness, it allows your body to use oxygen better at high altitudes. To help with edema in the body, Acetazolamide removes extra water and electrolytes from your body and pass them into your urine. In addition, the medication lowers the amount of fluid in your eyes to treat glaucoma. Though unclear, Acetazolamide appears to calm your nervous system to help with seizures.
How do I take Acetazolamide?
Acetazolamide is typically taken by mouth at doses up to 1000 mg per day. This dose can be separated into smaller doses throughout the day.
Is it safe for me to take Acetazolamide?
Acetazolamide is a safe and effective treatment when used for FDA licensed indications. However, like all medications, they may give you unwanted side effects. You should always discuss potential side effects with your physician to ensure the medication is suitable and right for you. You should not use this medication if you have a known allergy to sulfonamides, your sodium and/or potassium blood serum levels are depressed because kidney and liver disease or dysfunction, suprarenal gland failure, and in hyperchloremic acidosis, have cirrhosis, or chronic noncongestive
angle-closure glaucoma.
Acetazolamide Common Side Effects
Common side effects of DAMOX include:
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Acetazolamide Serious Side Effects
Serious side effects are rare with Acetazolamide. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Allergic reaction or severe skin reactions: hives, peeling or blistering skin, fever, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or lips
- Electrolyte or acid-base imbalance: nausea, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, rapid breathing, or confusion
Effects of other drugs, drug classes and over-the-counter products on Acetazolamide
The following medications may interact with Acetazolamide:
- Phenytoin – Acetazolamide modifies phenytoin metabolism with increased serum levels of phenytoin
- Primidone – May decrease serum concentrations of primidone and its metabolites
- Amphetamine and quinidnie – Decreases urinary excretion and may enhance the magnitude and duration of their effect
- Lithium – Increases lithium excretion and the lithium may be decreased
Who makes Acetazolamide?
Various FDA-approved generic manufacturers
Is Acetazolamide safe in pregnancy?
Acetazolamide may cause fetal harm based on animal studies. It should be used in pregnancy only if the potential benefit
justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
