Acetazolamide is employed to stop reducing the signs and symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and lack of breath that will occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters). It is particularly valuable in situations once you cannot make a slow ascent. The best ways to stop altitude sickness are climbing slowly, stopping all day and night through the climb allowing the body to adjust to the new height, and taking it simple the 1st one to two days.
This drug can also be used in combination with other medications to treat some sort of eye problem (open-angle glaucoma). Acetazolamide is really a "water pill" (diuretic). It decreases the quantity of fluid that could build up in the eye. It can also be utilized to decrease a growth of body fluids (edema) a result of congestive heart failure or certain medications. Acetazolamide can function less more than time, so it's usually used limited to a brief period.
It has also been used in combination with other medications to take care of some types of seizures (petit mal and unlocalized seizures).
If you are taking the tablets, take medicines by mouth, usually 1 to 4x daily or as directed by your doctor. If you adopt the long-acting capsules, take prescription drugs by mouth, usually a few times daily or as directed through your doctor. Swallow the long-acting capsules whole. Do not open, break, or chew the capsules. Doing so can destroy the long action of the drug and may even increase negative effects.
Acetazolamide may be taken with or without food. Drink a lot of fluids unless otherwise directed from your doctor. Your dosage is based on your medical problem and reaction to therapy.
To prevent altitude sickness, begin to take acetazolamide 1 to 2 days before you begin to climb. Continue taking it when you are climbing and then for at the very least 2 days once you have reached one last altitude. You should continue taking medicines while staying in the high altitude to manipulate your symptoms. If you develop severe altitude sickness, it is vital that you climb down as fast as possible. Acetazolamide will not shield you from the serious outcomes of severe altitude sickness. (See also Precautions.)
If you're taking this drug for the next condition (e.g., glaucoma, seizures), use medicines regularly as directed to make the most take advantage of it. To assist you to remember, go at the same time(s) daily. Taking your last dose within the early evening may help keep you from being forced to get out of bed inside middle in the night to urinate. Consult your medical professional or pharmacist if you have questions regarding your dosing schedule.
Do not increase or reduce your dose or stop using prescription drugs without first consulting your doctor. Some conditions can be worse when this drug is suddenly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
When employed for a prolonged period, medicines might not exactly be well and may require different dosing. Your doctor is going to be monitoring your complaint. Tell your medical professional if your complaint won't improve or when it worsens (e.g., more frequent seizures).
This drug may slow up the potassium levels in your blood. Your doctor may recommend that you eat foods abundant with potassium (e.g., bananas or orange juice) while you are taking prescription drugs. Your doctor can also advise a potassium supplement for you to take during treatment. Consult your medical professional for more info.
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or increased urination may occur, especially in the first few days because your body adjusts on the medication. Blurred vision, dry mouth, drowsiness, loss of appetite, stomach upset, headache and tiredness might also occur. If these symptoms persist or worsen, notify your medical professional or pharmacist.
Remember that a medical expert has prescribed this medication because he or she gets judged that the benefit to you is higher than the chance of side effects. Many people using prescription drugs will not have serious unwanted side effects.
Tell a medical expert immediately if some of these impossible but serious negative effects occur: increased body hair, hearing difficulties, ringing in the ears, unusual tiredness, persistent nausea/vomiting, severe stomach/abdominal pain.
Seek immediate medical help if all of these unlikely but serious negative effects occur: easy bleeding/bruising, fast/irregular heartbeat, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, difficulty concentrating), severe muscle cramps/pain, tingling in the hands/feet, blood within the urine, dark urine, painful urination, yellowing of the eyes/skin.
A grave allergic reaction to the drug isn't likely, but seek immediate medical attention when it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic attack might include: blisters/sores inside the mouth, rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete listing of possible unwanted side effects. If you notice other effects unlisted above, contact your physician or pharmacist.
In the US -
Call your medical professional for health advice about unwanted side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your medical professional for medical advice about negative effects. You may report negative effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Before taking acetazolamide, tell a medical expert or pharmacist if you're allergic into it; or for those who have every other allergies. This product might have inactive ingredients, which may cause hypersensitive reactions and other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for additional information.
This medication really should not be used if you have certain health concerns. Before using this medicine, consult your medical professional or pharmacist if you have: adrenal gland problems (e.g., Addison's disease), low blood degrees of sodium or potassium, severe kidney disease, severe liver disease (e.g., cirrhosis), certain metabolic problems (e.g., hyperchloremic acidosis).
Before using medicines, tell your medical professional or pharmacist your history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., emphysema, chronic bronchitis), high levels of calcium, dehydration, diabetes mellitus, gout, narrow-angle glaucoma, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
While prescription drugs can help you get utilized to high altitudes and enable you to tolerate quick climbs, it can't completely prevent serious altitude sickness. Symptoms of serious altitude sickness may include: severe breathlessness, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, difficulty concentrating), insufficient coordination/staggering walk, extreme tiredness, severe headache.
If you develop all of these symptoms, it is very important that you simply descend with a lower altitude as soon as possible to prevent serious, possibly fatal problems.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or blur how well you see. Alcohol or marijuana could make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that really needs alertness or clear vision and soon you are able to do it safely. Limit alcohol based drinks. Talk to your physician if you're using marijuana.
To minimize dizziness and lightheadedness, wake up slowly when rising from the seated or lying position.
This drug may rarely help make your blood sugar rise, that may cause or worsen diabetes. Tell your medical professional immediately when you have signs and symptoms of high blood sugar levels such as increased thirst/urination.
If you have diabetes, look at the blood glucose levels regularly as directed and share the outcome with your medical professional. This medication may also decrease your blood glucose levels. Symptoms of low blood glucose include sudden sweating, shaking, fast heartbeat, hunger, blurred vision, dizziness or tingling hands/feet. It is really a good habit to hold glucose tablets or gel to take care of low blood glucose levels. If you don't have these reliable types of glucose, rapidly raise the blood sugar by eating an instant way to obtain sugar such as ordinary sugar, honey, or candy, or by drinking a glass of orange juice or non-diet soda. Tell your medical professional immediately concerning the reaction and the usage of the product. To help prevent low blood glucose, eat meals on the regular schedule, and never skip meals.
This medication might make you more sensitive on the sun. Limit your time inside sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell a medical expert straight away driving under the influence sunburned or have skin blisters/redness.
This medication should not be used in children below 12 as it may affect normal growth.
This medication needs to be in combination with caution in the elderly because they could possibly be more responsive to its unwanted side effects, especially low potassium or sodium levels.
This medication should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed. Discuss the hazards and benefits with your doctor.
This medication passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult a medical expert before breast-feeding.
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