Diamox

Diamox is a prescription medication used to treat glaucoma and symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Diamox is used with other medicines to reduce edema (excess fluid retention) and to help control seizures in certain types of epilepsy. Diamox belongs to a group of drugs called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, which help to reduce amount of fluid in the eye and to reduce adverse symptoms when at high altitudes.

This medication comes in tablet and an extended release capsule form, and is taken with or without food.

Diamox is also available in an injectable form to be given directly into a vein (IV) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects of Diamox include rash, fever, and reduced field of vision. Diamox may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Diamox affect you.

Diamox is a prescription medication used to treat glaucoma. Diamox is used to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms (upset stomach, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue) of altitude (mountain) sickness. Diamox is used with other medicines to reduce edema (excess fluid retention) and to help control seizures in certain types of epilepsy.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take Diamox exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The Diamox dose your doctor recommends will be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• weight

Glaucoma

The recommended dose range for Diamox (acetazolamide) is 250 mg-1000mg/day. The number of times Diamox will be given will depend on the formulation being given.

Acute Mountain Sickness

The recommended dose range for Diamox (acetazolamide) is 500 mg-1000mg/day. The number of times Diamox will be given will depend on the formulation being given.

Edema

Recommended dosage is 250 to 375 mg of Diamox (acetazolamide) once a day for one or two days, alternating with a day of rest.

Diuresis in Congestive Heart Failure

The starting dose is usually 250 to 375 mg once daily in the morning.

Epilepsy

The recommended dose range for Diamox (acetazolamide) is 375 to 1000 mg daily.

Warning:

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. Sensitizations may recur when a sulfonamide is readministered irrespective of the route of administration. If signs of hypersensitivity or other serious reactions occur, discontinue use of this drug.

Caution is advised for patients receiving concomitant high-dose aspirin and Diamox, as anorexia, tachypnea, lethargy, coma and death have been reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with Diamox including:

• paresthesias, particularly a “tingling” feeling in the extremities. Occurs most often early in therapy.
• tinnitus (noise or ringing in the ears)
• hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction). Signs of a hypersensitivity reaction, which include the following:
  • chest pain
  • swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • fainting
  • rash
• loss of blood sugar control. Caution is advised in those with impaired glucose (blood sugar) tolerance or in those with diabetes.
• electrolyte imbalances. Electrolytes are minerals in your body that help your body function normally. An imbalance could lead to abnormalities such as arrhythmias (with low or high levels of potassium), a change in body fluid (due to low or high levels of sodium), and altered acidity levels of your blood.
• anaphylaxis, fever, rash (including erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis)
• decrease in blood counts

Diamox may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Diamox affect you.

Do not take Diamox if you:

• have an allergic reaction to Diamox or any of its ingredients
• have a history of an allergic reaction to sulfonamides
• have lowered levels of sodium and/or potassium blood levels in cases of kidney and liver disease or dysfunction, in suprarenal gland failure, and in hyperchloremic acidosis
• have a history of cirrhosis because of the risk of development of hepatic encephalopathy
• are using Diamox for a prolonged duration and also have chronic non-congestive angle-closure glaucoma

Serious side effects have been reported with Diamox. See the “Drug Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Diamox are:

• rash
• fever
• reduced field of vision
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• loss of appetite
• change in taste

This is not a complete list of Diamox side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• aspirin (Ecotrin)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• primidone (Mysoline, Desoxyphenobarbital, Primaclone)
• other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as methazolamide (Neptazene), dorzolamide (Trusopt), and topiramate (Topamax)
• folic acid antagonists such as methotrexate (Trexall, Rheumatrex), trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra, Primsol, Proloprim, Trimpex), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), pemetrexed (Alimtra), and raltitrexed (Tomudex)
• dexamphetamine/amphetamine salts (Adderall)
• quinidine (Duraquin, Quinalan, Quinact)
• methenamine (Hiprex, Urex, Mandelamine)
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)
• sodium bicarbonate

This is not a complete list of Diamox drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Diamox fall into category C. There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Diamox should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Because of the possibility for serious negative reactions in nursing infants from Diamox, a decision should be made whether to stop nursing or to stop the drug. Diamox should only be used by nursing women if the benefit outweighs the risk to the child.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acetazolamide, sulfa drugs, diuretics ('water pills'), or any other drugs.

Plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Acetazolamide may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.

Alcohol can make the effects of acetazolamide worse. Mixing alcohol and acetazolamide can cause drowsiness.