Get Informed: Acetazolamide

16

Patient Comments About
Acetazolamide

Active Ingredient(s)

Acetazolamide

What does it do?

Acetazolamide

This product is used in the treatment of glaucoma, epilepsy, edema relating to Congestive Heart Failure, drug induced edema, and for altitude sickness prevention in mountain climbers. It is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that promotes proper fluid movement and secretion.

Last Text Update:
 2010-Jul-30 11:52 PM
Last Data Update:
 2010-Jul-30 9:05 PM

Other Names

  • Diamox
  • Acetazolamide

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
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Average Risk Rating
0:
Pregnancy Category
C

Black Box Warning

This product has a black box relating to an increased risk of severe allergic reaction, and an increased risk of potential fatality in using this product in conjunction with high-dose aspirin.

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
27 Jul 1953
Est US Patients*
78,130
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
No

User Age Distribution*

7

< 21

27

21-39

44

40-59

22

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Acetazolamide or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Acetazolamide

There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Acetazolamide during the past year.

Acetazolamide Safety Report

0:

The iGuard risk rating for Acetazolamide is on hold. It means that we're waiting for more patients taking this medication to join iGuard before we can provide a more accurate safety assessment of this product.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Acetazolamide interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Acetazolamide used for?

iGuard is currently tracking more than 570 patients that use Acetazolamide (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
Pseudotumor Cerebri 71% mild 6 severe
COPD 12% mild 5 severe
Heart Failure/Edema 6% mild 5 severe
Glaucoma 6% mild 5 severe
Meniere's Disease 6% mild 8 severe
Tinnitus 6% mild 8 severe
Balance Problems 6% mild 8 severe

How well does Acetazolamide work?

iGuard regularly polls our more than 570 users taking Acetazolamide (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

62 64
76%
of patients are confident that the good things about Acetazolamide outweigh the bad things.
23%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Acetazolamide.

Common Side Effects of Acetazolamide

iGuard regularly polls our more than 570 users taking Acetazolamide (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

48%

48% of patients experience side-effects on Acetazolamide

11%

11% of patients experience significant side-effects on Acetazolamide


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 20% Dryness
  • 15% Altered Taste/Smell
  • 10% Numbness/Tingling
  • 5%
  • 5% Vision Changes
  • 5% Kidney Stones
  • 5% Dizziness
  • 5% Drowsiness
  • 5% Gout
  • 5% Headache
  • = 10%

Global Patient Feedback for Acetazolamide ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first
English comments | Global comments

Question/Comment:

I have been off diamox now for little over a month. I was actually on it for 14 years, and to go go off of it cause I do not have health insurance anymore. Does anyone know know the long term side affects of being on diamox? And what about going off of it cold turkey?

40 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-09-13 14:51:20

iGuard Answer/Reply:

While Diamox does have long-term effects, they are mostly diagnosed with abnormal lab values or examinations. If you are concerned about a specific side effect, please contact your doctor who may be able to determine if your symptoms are caused from the Diamox or from a different condition. Also, your physician may have samples that you can take while without insurance or perhaps your physician can prescribe a less expensive mediation for your condition. Let your physician know you have not taken the medication in over a month as well.

Posted: 2009-09-21 01:48:30

Question/Comment:

I was diagnosed with Peseudotumor Cerebri or Benign Intercarannial Hypertension after I went in for a routine eye exam in March 2002. I knew something was up when the Doctor wanted to dilalate my eyes. Well, I wasn't experiencing headaches or anything like that. I could hear my pluse in my ears. Doctor said my eyes were hemoraging. Lost some eye sight. After a CAT SCAN, MRI and the final confirmation of a spinal tap. They told me that I had the above condition. I have no idea how I got this, though in the fall I was given a antibiotic at the hospital that was a small white pill, I was to take one a day. I took on and remember it made me feel sicker than I was, it gave me a headache. I think that is what caused this, a side effect from taking that pill. I really don't know. I don't like taking any pills so it was really hard to get into the routine of taking diamox. I could not stand the side of effect of the tingling in my hands and feet. I am a preschool teacher and we spend time outside year round. It seem this was worst in the winter when it was cold. I finally got use to using the medcine. After being on the diamox for two years, I began to notice that the swishing or pluse in my ears seem become much more intense. So I talked with my nurologist and I told him I wanted to stop taking this medcine. He weaned me off the pills and I have not taken them since about 2006. I don't seem to have any problems so far. I see an eye specialist once a year and check in with the nuerologist.

51 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-03-21 09:56:24

Question/Comment:

I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor Cerebri in Fall 2004. I have been taking Acetazolamide (Diamox) since this time. One of my occupations is an over-the-road trucker and I'm exposed to altitude change very frequently. This medication has helped me from having the buildup of excess spinal fluid. I was given the option to have a shunt from my spine to abdominal region but I decided to take the Diamox once a day instead. This medication can cause frequent urination and has caused my Potassium level to drop which in return causes painful tingling in my lower extremities. I've found that if I walk 3 days a week plus drink orange Juice and eat bananas, this helps keep my level within a good range. I know there are other patients that have no choice but to have the shunt surgery and take Diamox also. I have had issues where I was tired of taking the pill and quit cold turkey. That can be a major mistake if you are dehydrated or low on Potassium. It's best to talk to your physician before ending the medication.

38 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-03-08 17:48:26

Question/Comment:

does alcohol interact with acetazolamide i take 1 acetazolamide a day for glaucoma , a acute glaucoma attack , been on it 2 month awaiting surgery

66 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-02-26 06:16:54

iGuard Answer/Reply:

Some patients have reported drowsiness and confusion when taking acetazolamide. Since alcohol can also cause these effects, alcohol should be avoided or used with extreme caution if you are taking acetazolamide.

Posted: 2009-03-08 23:57:37

Question/Comment:

I am on Acetazolamide for Mieniers' diasease. I have been on it since about 1997. I had gotten so bad that I couldn't stand up. I would even get dizzy laying down. Taking this has let me fuction in a fairly normal way. I still have short dizzy spells, and cannot stand on one foot. I had to stop riding motorcycles, but am able to ride a bicycle. I have to pee all the time, but my ear doctor said that is normal. I have to take Potassium with this because of the peeing all the time.

66 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States

Posted: 2009-02-03 16:51:25

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