What is acetazolamide?
Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Carbonic anhydrase is a protein in your body. Acetazolamide reduces the activity of this protein.
Acetazolamide is used to treat glaucoma and to treat and to prevent acute mountain sickness (altitude sickness). It is also used as a part of some treatment plans for congestive heart failure and seizure disorders.
Acetazolamide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about acetazolamide?
Call your doctor immediately if you experience a sore throat, fever, unusual bleeding or bruising, tingling or tremors in your hands or feet, pain in your side or groin, or a rash. These symptoms could be early signs of a serious side effect.
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Acetazolamide may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Acetazolamide may increase the sensitivity of your skin to sunlight. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when exposure to the sun is unavoidable.
Who should not take acetazolamide?
Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a sulfa-based drug such as sulfamethoxazole (e.g., Bactrim, Septra, Gantanol). Acetazolamide is also a sulfa-based drug, and you may have a similar reaction to it.
Before taking acetazolamide, tell your doctor if you
are on aspirin therapy,
have liver disease,
have kidney disease,
have heart disease,
have lung disease, or
have a hormonal disease.
You may not be able to take acetazolamide, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
Acetazolamide is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether acetazolamide will harm an unborn baby. Do not take acetazolamide without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
Acetazolamide passes into breast milk. It is not known whether acetazolamide will affect a nursing infant. Do not take acetazolamide without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.