Acetazolamide, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Generic and brand names: acetazolamide, oral; Diamox; Diamox Sequels

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat glaucoma. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your health care provider.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to this medicine or sulfa drugs such as sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole, sulfamethoxazole (Gantanol), or sulfamethizole (Thiosulfil Forte)
• liver or kidney disease
• lung disease
• adrenal insufficiency (adrenal glands not producing enough hormones)
• electrolyte imbalance (low blood levels of sodium or potassium).

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Do not take this medicine during the first 3 months of pregnancy because it can harm the baby.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your health care provider prescribes. Taking more may increase the risk of side effects.

Take this medicine with meals to lessen stomach upset. If stomach upset continues, tell your health care provider.

This medicine may increase urination. Take the last dose of the day before 6 PM to avoid interrupting your sleep.

If you are taking this medicine to control seizures, do not stop taking it without your health care provider's approval.

What should I watch out for?

Your health care provider may want to see you regularly to check your progress.

This medicine may drive potassium (a vital mineral) from your body. Your health care provider may prescribe a potassium-rich diet or a potassium supplement for you to take every day.

This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Trouble breathing, extreme weakness, trouble urinating, depression.

Other: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, increased urination, loss of appetite, tingling in your fingers.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Also, using these medicines together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking any of these medicines:

• aspirin in high doses
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
• diflunisal (Dolobid)
• primidone (Mysoline)
• salicylates (including aspirin).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.