What Diamox is used for?

Sommario:

1. What Diamox is used for?
2. What does Diamox do to your body?
3. What are the common side effects of acetazolamide?
4. Does Diamox lower blood pressure?
5. Who should not take acetazolamide?
6. How does Diamox reduce eye pressure?
7. How does Diamox decrease intracranial pressure?
8. Who should not use acetazolamide?
9. What are the long term effects of taking Diamox?
10. Can I drink coffee while taking Diamox?
11. How quickly does Diamox reduce eye pressure?
12. What happens when you stop Diamox?
13. Can Diamox increase intracranial pressure?
14. What is an alternative to Diamox?
15. Does Diamox lower potassium?
16. Does Diamox deplete potassium?
17. Does Diamox dehydrate you?
18. How long does Diamox stay in your system?
19. Can I buy Diamox over the counter?

What Diamox is used for?

Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters).

What does Diamox do to your body?

What is Diamox? Diamox reduces the activity of a protein in your body called carbonic anhydrase. Blocking this protein can help reduce the build-up of certain fluids in the body. Diamox is used in people with certain types of glaucoma to reduce the amount of fluid in the eye, which decreases pressure inside the eye.

What are the common side effects of acetazolamide?

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or increased urination may occur, especially during the first few days as your body adjusts to the medication. Blurred vision, dry mouth, drowsiness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in taste may also occur.

Does Diamox lower blood pressure?

Acetazolamide reduces blood pressure and sleep-disordered breathing in patients with hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized controlled trial.

Who should not take acetazolamide?

You should not use acetazolamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have: severe liver disease, or cirrhosis; severe kidney disease; an electrolyte imbalance (such as acidosis or low levels of potassium or sodium in your blood);

How does Diamox reduce eye pressure?

Acetazolamide works by blocking the action of an enzyme called carbonic anhydrase. Blocking this enzyme reduces the amount of fluid (called aqueous humour) that you make in the front part of your eye, and this helps to lower the pressure within your eye.

How does Diamox decrease intracranial pressure?

Acetazolamide is one of the most widely used drugs for lowering intracranial pressure (ICP) and is believed to reduce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion via its action on the choroid plexus (CP).

Who should not use acetazolamide?

You should not use acetazolamide if you are allergic to it, or if you have: severe liver disease, or cirrhosis; severe kidney disease; an electrolyte imbalance (such as acidosis or low levels of potassium or sodium in your blood);

What are the long term effects of taking Diamox?

Diamox may worsen chronic liver disease. People with severe chronic lung disease may experience more breathing difficulty while taking Diamox. Diamox can make sunburn more likely. People should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight while on Diamox, especially if they get sunburned easily.

Can I drink coffee while taking Diamox?

It is best to avoid coffee, spicy food or alcohol. It is recommended to drink plenty of water while using this medication.

How quickly does Diamox reduce eye pressure?

Ordinary Diamox has its maximal action after 5 hours and ceases to act after 8 to 12 hours. (3) Sustained release Diamox Sequel given twice daily to patients with chronic simple glaucoma produces a fall in intra-ocular pressure of from 12 to 62 per cent.

What happens when you stop Diamox?

Stopping this medicine suddenly may make your epilepsy worse. Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to. Do not give Diamox to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.

Can Diamox increase intracranial pressure?

One-tailed tests were used when comparing univariate effects of acetazolamide versus vehicle on ICP because all past work has shown that acetazolamide consistently reduces CSF production and ICP, and there is no obvious mechanism for acetazolamide to increase ICP.

What is an alternative to Diamox?

Between 19–48% of patients will not tolerate acetazolamide due to side effects (5,6) and consequently alternative drugs maybe prescribed such as topiramate, furosemide, amiloride and octreotide.

Does Diamox lower potassium?

This drug may reduce the potassium levels in your blood. Your doctor may recommend that you eat foods rich in potassium (e.g., bananas or orange juice) while you are taking this medication.

Does Diamox deplete potassium?

The "starter pak" is Diamox (acetazolamide) plus a potassium supplement. While Diamox reduces (or stops) the number of attacks, it also causes you to excrete potassium in your urine, so you need to take some potassium to make up for what you lose.

Does Diamox dehydrate you?

Because Diamox can cause dehydration, people taking this medicine should be sure to drink plenty of fluid. Diamox should be stored at room temperature, between 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

How long does Diamox stay in your system?

Acetazolamide

Clinical data
Protein binding	70–90%
Metabolism	None
Elimination half-life	2–4 hours
Excretion	Urine (90%)

Can I buy Diamox over the counter?

Acetazolamide is a prescription-only drug, so you cannot buy it over the counter before going on holiday. You must allow enough time to make an appointment with your GP ahead of time, or use our online service which can issue you with a doctor-verified prescription based on your responses to our health questionnaire.