Acetazolamide Tablets

Acetazolamide Tablets

What are Acetazolamide Tablets used for?

Acetazolamide tablets are most commonly prescribed to prevent altitude sickness. When you ascend quickly to high altitudes, lower oxygen levels can trigger symptoms of acute mountain sickness such as headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Acetazolamide helps your body adapt by speeding up the acclimatisation process.

Beyond altitude sickness prevention, acetazolamide tablets are also used to treat:

• Glaucoma: to reduce pressure inside the eye
• Fluid retention: acting as a diuretic to help the body eliminate excess fluid
• Epilepsy: to help reduce the frequency of fits or convulsions

Your doctor will prescribe the most appropriate dose based on the condition being treated.

How do Acetazolamide Tablets work?

Acetazolamide (also known as Diamox) belongs to a group of medicines called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. It works by blocking an enzyme that controls fluid production in the body.

For altitude sickness, acetazolamide can help stimulate deeper, faster breathing, raising the amount of oxygen in the blood and speeding up acclimatisation.

For other conditions, the same mechanism helps lower pressure inside the eye, remove excess fluid from the body and stabilise abnormal nerve activity.

Who can use Acetazolamide Tablets?

Acetazolamide tablets are suitable for adults when prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist.

Don’t take acetazolamide if you:

• Are allergic to sulphonamides, sulphonamide derivatives or any of the ingredients in the tablet
• Have severe liver or kidney problems
• Have Addison’s disease (reduced adrenal gland function)
• Have low sodium or potassium levels in your blood, or high chlorine levels
• Have a type of glaucoma known as chronic non-congestive angle closure glaucoma

Talk to your doctor before taking acetazolamide if you:

• Have a history of kidney stones
• Have a lung condition such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema
• Are over 65 years of age
• Take other medicines for epilepsy

Acetazolamide may interfere with heart medicines, blood pressure medicines, blood thinners, diabetes medicines, epilepsy medicines, steroids, aspirin, lithium, ciclosporin and other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Acetazolamide shouldn’t be taken during pregnancy or if you are planning to become pregnant. It can be taken while breastfeeding, but only on a doctor’s advice.

How to Take Acetazolamide for Altitude Sickness

The recommended dose of acetazolamide is 125mg twice daily, commenced 1 day prior to ascent to high altitude and continued for at least 2 days after reaching the highest altitude.

A trial dose for 1 or 2 days should be taken prior to travel to check for side effects.

Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water, just before or just after a meal. Don’t chew or crush them.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s within two hours of your next scheduled dose, skip the missed tablet and continue as normal. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

If you take too many tablets, seek medical help immediately by calling your doctor or going to your nearest A&E. Take any remaining tablets and the packaging with you.

Side Effects of Acetazolamide Tablets

Like all medicines, acetazolamide can cause possible side effects, although not everyone will experience them.

Commonly reported side effects include:

• Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes
• Increased need to pass urine
• Headache or dizziness
• Nausea, diarrhoea or loss of appetite
• A metallic taste in the mouth
• Tiredness or drowsiness
• Temporary short-sightedness

Contact your doctor if you experience:

• Depression, confusion or feeling over-excited
• Ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing
• Loss of interest in sex
• Skin rashes or increased sensitivity to sunlight

Seek medical attention immediately if you notice:

• Sudden wheeziness, swelling of the face or lips, or a widespread rash
• Sore throat, fever, unexplained bruising or small red or purple spots on the skin
• Pain when passing urine, blood in the urine or yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
• A decrease in vision or pain in the eyes
• A serious skin condition like a red scaly rash with blisters or bumps under the skin

With long-term use, acetazolamide can occasionally affect potassium or sodium levels in the blood and may increase the risk of kidney stones or bone thinning. Your doctor may arrange blood tests to monitor this.

For a full list of side effects, read the Patient Information Leaflet.

Acetazolamide Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: acetazolamide 250mg

Other ingredients: dicalcium phosphate, corn starch, magnesium stearate, sodium starch glycolate and povidone.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23mg) per dose and is considered essentially sodium-free.

Warnings and Precautions

• Don’t drive or operate machinery if acetazolamide makes you feel drowsy, confused or causes temporary short-sightedness.
• Tell any doctor or nurse you are taking acetazolamide before any medical tests or procedures, as it can affect results.
• Seek prompt medical advice if you notice a decrease in vision or pain in the eyes after taking this medicine.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you develop shortness of breath or difficulty breathing during treatment.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you experience any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all other medicines you are taking.