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About Acetazolamide (Diamox)

Diamox was a brand name for acetazolamide 250mg tablets. The Diamox brand is no longer being sold in the UK (April 2015).

Diamox tablets for altitude sickness

Mild altitude sickness is unpleasant and should act as a warning. Headache, fatigue, loss of appetite and poor sleep above 10,000 feet (3,000 metres) are signs of early altitude sickness. Do not ascend further until these symptoms settle.

Diamox helps to settle the symptoms of early altitude sickness more quickly.

Serious altitude sickness where there is a build up of fluid in the brain and/or the lungs is dangerous. Symptoms of extreme shortness of breath and/or disturbed mental function can come on rapidly. Over a period of hours symptoms can progress to coma and even death. At the first sign of these symptoms rapid descent of at least 1,500 feet (500 metres) is the best treatment. Other treatments include oxygen, steroids and Diamox.

If a person can not get their breath when everybody else has regained theirs or if a person is behaving strangely or can not walk in a straight line this is a medical emergency.

Diamox to improve sleep

At altitude (above 3,000 metres) abnormal breathing often disturbs sleep. There can be prolonged pauses between breaths followed by brief periods of rapid breathing. This leads to restless sleep and day time fatigue.

Diamox can be taken to reduce the sleep disturbance of altitude.

Acclimatising to altitude

The symptoms of mountain sickness and the dangers can be reduced by proper acclimatisation. See guidelines acclimatising to altitude.

Taking Diamox reduces the chances of getting mountain sickness, although it does not replace proper acclimatisation. Altitude sickness can and does still occur.

Guide to altitude

High	2,500 to 4,000 metres	8,000 to 13,000 feet
Very High	4,000 to 5,500 metres	13,000 to 18,000 feet
Extremely High	over 5,500 metres	over 18,000 feet

Side effects of Diamox

Most people taking Diamox do not experience side effects. Diamox side effects include: passing extra urine, flushing, thirst, headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, depression, a 'tingling' feeling in the extremities; some loss of appetite, taste disturbance, reduced libido and occasional instances of drowsiness and confusion. For a full list of side effects see the Diamox Patient Information Leaflet.

People allergic to sulpha containing drugs should not take Diamox.

Diamox dose

Dr Fox supplies 250mg Diamox tablets on prescription at a dose of one twice daily for early symptoms of mountain sickness. The dose is the same where forced ascent cannot be avoided. For Diamox dosage details.

The dose of 250mg Diamox tablets for sleep disturbance is half a tablet (125mg Diamox) twice daily.

Diamox online

Diamox is acetazolamide. It is available from online pharmacies. However pharmacies require their customers to provide their own prescriptions. Doctors usually charge £10 to £25.00 for private prescriptions. Most GPs would not be familiar enough with altitude medicine for them to prescribe Diamox.

Specialist travel clinics charge more than Dr Fox to buy Diamox online.

Diamox overseas

It is safer to obtain Diamox online in the UK than to buy it overseas. We supply genuine Diamox from a UK registered pharmacy. Overseas tablets could be fake, out of date, or substandard.

Patient information leaflet

The 'Patient Information Leaflet' supplied with tablets must be read before taking.

Acetazolamide 250mg Patient Leaflet

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