Acetazolamide is a prescription generic medication. It also comes as the brand-name medication Diamox. Healthcare professionals use acetazolamide to treat several conditions, such as:
- heart problems
- glaucoma
- high pressure around the brain (intracranial hypertension)
- seizures and epilepsy
- altitude sickness
Acetazolamide is classified as a diuretic. It comes as an oral tablet and an intravenous (IV) solution. Your dosage of acetazolamide will depend on the condition it’s treating.
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Heart problems
Healthcare professionals sometimes prescribe acetazolamide for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart.
With CHF, fluid builds up in the heart and other places in the body.
Acetazolamide is a type of diuretic that helps reduce the amount of fluid in your body. It also helps your kidneys get rid of excess water and salt more easily, which makes it easier for your heart to pump.
Your dosage of acetazolamide for CHF may vary, but the starting dose is typically 250 to 375 milligrams (mg) once daily in the morning.
Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on how your body responds to the medication. Acetazolamide tablets work best when taken every other day or for 2 days at a time, alternating with 1 day off.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition in which the pressure inside your eye is too high.
Acetazolamide helps treat glaucoma by decreasing the amount of pressure in the eye. Healthcare professionals typically prescribe it for primary open-angle glaucoma and closed-angle glaucoma.
Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma and has no symptoms aside from vision loss over time. Closed-angle glaucoma is less common but is considered an emergency.
The dosage of acetazolamide will vary depending on the type of glaucoma you have. It’s important to talk with your doctor to determine the best dosage schedule for you.
- Primary open-angle glaucoma: The dosage ranges from 250 mg to 1 gram (g) of acetazolamide every 24 hours. If you’re taking more than 250 mg, your doctor will likely have you divide your doses and take it more than once per day.
- Angle-closure glaucoma: The dosage is typically 250 mg taken every 4 hours. Depending on your situation, your doctor may have you take 250 mg twice per day instead. Or they may have you take an initial dose of 500 mg followed by 125 or 250 mg every 4 hours.
High pressure around the brain
Intracranial hypertension (IH) occurs when pressure builds in the fluid around the brain. IH can happen due to a head injury, stroke, tumor, or infection. If you have IH, it may feel like you constantly have a throbbing headache.
Diuretics, like acetazolamide, may help treat IH by helping your body get rid of fluids, which may result in lower pressure around your brain.
There isn’t a standard dosage of acetazolamide for IH. A doctor may have you start on 500 mg, taken twice per day, and gradually increase the dosage to 4 g per day, taken twice per day. But it’s important to talk with your doctor to determine the best dosage for your situation.
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Seizures happen when there is irregular activity from the nerves in your brain. When seizures occur consistently, the condition is called epilepsy.
There are many types of seizures, and you may or may not experience symptoms depending on the kind of seizure you’re experiencing.
Acetazolamide is used for many different types of seizures. The dosage can range from 375 to 1,000 mg daily.
Sometimes acetazolamide is used in addition to other anticonvulsant medications. If you take it with other drugs, your doctor may have you start on a dose of 250 mg and adjust it accordingly.
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness is a condition that can occur when your body is exposed to a higher elevation than it’s used to within a short period of time.
Symptoms of altitude sickness include nausea, headache, and dizziness, generally occuring at altitudes over 2,500 meters (8,202 feet).
Acetazolamide can help manage altitude sickness. The dosage may range from 250 to 1,000 mg daily, divided into two or more doses. Acetazolamide may be more effective if you start taking it 1 or 2 days before you travel to a higher altitude.
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Summary
Acetazolamide is used to treat several conditions, including heart problems, glaucoma, pressure around the brain, seizures, and altitude sickness.
It is mainly used as a diuretic to help reduce the amount of fluid in the body.
Your dosage of acetazolamide will vary based on the condition being treated. In some cases, healthcare professionals may prescribe it in combination with other medications.