Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
What Is Acetazolamide?
Acetazolamide (Brand Name: Diamox) is a "water pill" (diuretic) used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. Acetazolamide is also used with other medications to treat a certain type of eye problem (open-angle glaucoma). Acetazolamide is available in generic form.
What Are Side Effects of Acetazolamide?
Common side effects of acetazolamide include:
- dizziness,
- lightheadedness, and
- an increased amount of urine, especially during the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication.
- Other side effects of acetazolamide include blurred vision,
- dry mouth,
- drowsiness,
- loss of appetite,
- changes in the sense of taste,
- stomach upset,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- diarrhea,
- headache,
- tingling feeling,
- ringing in the ears (tinnitus),
- confusion, and
- tiredness.
Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of acetazolamide including:
- increased body hair,
- hearing loss,
- unusual tiredness,
- persistent nausea or vomiting, or
- severe stomach or abdominal pain.
Dosage for Acetazolamide
Dosage of Acetazolamide depends on the condition being treated and the patient's response.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements 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. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking.
Acetazolamide During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Acetazolamide should be used during pregnancy only if prescribed. This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Additional Information
Our Acetazolamide (Brand Name: Diamox) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
QUESTION
In the U.S., 1 in every 4 deaths is caused by heart disease. See Answer3 pharmacies near 10025 have coupons for Acetazolamide (Brand Names:Acetazolamide Tablets for 250MG)
SIDE EFFECTS
Adverse reactions, occurring most often early in therapy, include paresthesias, particularly a “tingling” feeling in the extremities, hearing dysfunction or tinnitus, loss of appetite, taste alteration and gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, polyuria, and occasional instances of drowsiness and confusion.
Metabolic acidosis and electrolyte imbalance may occur.
Transient myopia has been reported. This condition invariably subsides upon diminution or discontinuance of the medication. Other occasional adverse reactions include urticaria, melena, hematuria, glycosuria, hepatic insufficiency, flaccid paralysis, photosensitivity and convulsions. Also see PATIENT INFORMATION for possible reactions common to sulfonamide derivatives. Fatalities have occurred although rarely, due to severe reactions to sulfonamides including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia and other blood dyscrasias (see WARNINGS).
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Acetazolamide (Acetazolamide Tablets)
SLIDESHOW
Heart Disease: Symptoms, Signs, and Causes See Slideshow© Acetazolamide Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Acetazolamide Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
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