Diamox Brand (acetazolamide) Side Effects, Dosage & Uses

What is Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

Acetazolamide is a strong carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

Why is Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) prescribed to patients?

Acetazolamide a prescription medicine used for the following
conditions:

To remove extra fluid
from the body (diuresis) in people with
heart failure.
Prevention and
treatment of
mountain sickness (altitude sickness)
Seizures
Glaucoma

What brand names are available for acetazolamide?

Diamox and Diamox Sequels are the brand names available for acetazolamide in the US.

Do I need a prescription for Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

Yes

Is Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) available as a generic drug?

Yes

What are the side effects of Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

Common side effects include:

Paresthesias
(tingling, numbness, burning, prickling)
Ringing in the ears
Hearing problems
Loss of appetite
Changes in taste
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Frequent urination
Drowsiness
Confusion

Other less common side effects include:

Transient myopia
Sensitivity to light
Glucose in the urine
Blood in urine
Hives
Headache
Fever
Pain at injection site
Flushing
Headache
Anaphylaxis

Possible serious side effects of Diamox:

Possible serious side effects include:

Liver problems
Flaccid
paralysis
Stevens-Johnson
syndrome (severe
skin rash)
Toxic epidermal
necrolysis (severe skin rash)
Agranulocytosis
(decrease in white blood cells)
Aplastic anemia and
other
blood disorders
Metabolic acidosis
Electrolyte imbalance
Growth retardation in children
Seizures

What is the dosage for Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

For the treatment of glaucoma: acetazolamide should be used as an adjunct to
the usual therapy.

The usual recommended dose for the treatment of
open-angle glaucoma ranges
from 250 mg to 1 gram of acetazolamide per day. Treatment with doses >1gram did
not offer any additional benefits.
The usual recommended dose for the treatment of secondary glaucoma and for
the preoperative treatment of some cases of closed-angle glaucoma is 250 mg
every 4 hours. In more urgent cases, an initial dose of 500 mg followed by 125
mg or 250 mg every 4 hours as be used.

For the treatment of seizures:

The manufacturer’s suggested total daily dose
is 8-30 mg per kg in divided doses.
The optimum range appears to be from 375 to
1000 mg, however, some patients may respond to lower doses.
When used with other
anti-seizure medication, the starting dose of acetazolamide should be 250 mg,
and it should then gradually be increased as necessary.

For congestive heart failure:

To remove excess fluid in patients (diuresis) with
congestive heart failure, the starting dose is usually 250 to 375 mg
administered once a day in the morning.
As tolerance may develop with use,
this medication should be skipped for a day to allow the kidneys to recover in
patients who stop responding to treatment. For best diuresis, acetazolamide
should be given on alternate days, or for two days followed by one day off and
then repeat.

For the treatment of excess water retention caused by medication:

The usual
recommended dose is 250 to 375 mg once a day for one or two days, alternating
with a day of rest.

For acute mountain sickness:

The usual recommended dose is 500 mg to 1000 mg per
day in divided doses.
1000 mg is recommended in cases of rapid ascent.
Preferably, treatment should be started 24-48 hours before ascent and continued
for 48 hours while at high altitude, or longer as necessary to control symptoms.

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Which drugs or supplements interact with Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

Acetazolamide should not be used with other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
such as
methazolamide (Neptazane). Use of two carbonic anhydrase inhibitors may
cause dangerously low levels of blood potassium
(hyponatremia).

Is Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

There are no adequate studies evaluating the use of acetazolamide
during pregnancy. Evidence of
birth defects was observed with administration of oral
and injectable acetazolamide in mice, rats, hamsters, and rabbits. Therefore,
acetazolamide should only be used during pregnancy if the potential benefit of
treatment outweighs the potential risk to the unborn baby. Acetazolamide is
classified as FDA pregnancy risk category C.
It is not known whether acetazolamide is excreted into human milk. Because
many drugs are excreted into human milk and can cause side effects in the
nursing infant, the manufacturer recommends that patients should discontinue
nursing or discontinue acetazolamide, taking into account the importance of
treatment to the mother. However, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, acetazolamide is usually considered to be compatible with
breast-feeding.

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What else should I know about Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide)?

What preparations of Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) are available?

Oral tablets: 125 and 250 mg
Oral capsules extended release (12hr): 500 mg
Powder for injection: 500 mg

How should I keep Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) stored?

All oral preparations of acetazolamide should be stored at room temperature.
Before mixing, injection acetazolamide should be stored at room temperature,
between 20 C and 25 C (68 F and 77) F.
After mixing, acetazolamide injection should be stored in the refrigerator,
between 2.2 C and 7.7 C (36 F and 46 F) and used within 12 hours of mixing.

How does Diamox, Diamox Sequels (acetazolamide) work?

Carbonic anhydrase
is an enzyme found within the
red blood cells and helps to regulate the acidity
and fluid balance in various organs throughout the body. Carbonic anhydrase
catalyzes a reversible reaction that converts carbon dioxide and water into
carbonic acid, which can then breakdown into protons and bicarbonate ions.
In the kidneys and the eyes, carbonic anhydrase promotes the reaction that
produces bicarbonate ions and acid to regulate the amount of fluid within these
organs. When the delicate balance of this reaction is disturbed, medical
problems such as glaucoma and excess fluid retention (edema) may occur.
Beneficial effects observed in the treatment of glaucoma include decreases in
the secretion of aqueous humor in the eye and intraocular pressure.
When used as
a diuretic (water-pill) in patients who have abnormal fluid retention (for
example, heart failure), acetazolamide works in the kidney to promote a
reversible reaction that results in the loss of bicarbonate, which carries with
it sodium, water, and potassium. In-addition to causing diuresis (water loss),
the urine becomes more alkaline or basic (pH increases). Alkalization of the
urine causes an increase in the reabsorption of ammonia by the renal tubules.
Acetazolamide is also used to treat and prevent symptoms of acute mountain
sickness (AMS) such as
headache,
nausea,
shortness of breath,
dizziness,
drowsiness, and
fatigue. Compared to placebo, 250 mg acetazolamide every 8-12
hours or 500 mg controlled-release capsule once daily was effective in
preventing symptoms of acute mountain sickness before and during rapid ascent to altitude. Compared
to placebo, acetazolamide treated patients experienced fewer and/or less severe
symptoms, had better lung function, and experienced less difficulty in sleeping.
Acetazolamide is also used with other medications to treat certain forms of
seizures.