It is indicated in certain forms of glaucoma, as the simple chronic open-angle glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and preoperatively narrow-angle glaucoma when the reduction of intraocular pressure is necessary.

It is also indicated as an aid in the liquid retention of congestive heart failure or induced by medicinal substances or drugs, certain forms of epilepsy especially in petit mal, grand mal seizures, mixed type convulsions and myoclonus, both children and adults.

Acetazolamide is also indicated in the prevention and treatment of symptoms associated with altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness, as in the case of climbers attempting a climb in a short time and in subjects very susceptible to this disorder although the climbing is done slowly.

Allergy symptoms may include:

- Asthma attacks with shortness of breath, audible wheezing or rapid breathing.
- More or less sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue or elsewhere in the body. It is especially critical if it affects the vocal cords.
- Hives, itching, rash
- Anaphylactic shock (loss of consciousness, paleness, sweating, etc.).

Nor you should take this medicine:

- If you have low sodium levels (hyponatremia) or potassium (hypokalemia) in the blood,
- If you have a major liver or kidney disease. In the case of having liver cirrhosis, can be induced the appearance of a hepatic encephalopathy
- If you suffer from adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease),
- If you have a metabolic disorder called hyperchloraemic acidosis,
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby.

Take special care with acetazolamide

- In the case of chronic narrow-angle glaucoma, you should not use this medicine for prolonged periods as the reduction of intraocular pressure can allow angle closure and worsening of glaucoma can occur.
- If you have or have had kidney stones (nephrolithiasis)
- If you have bronchopulmonary problems such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema, which may cause difficulty breathing,
- If you are 65 years or older,
- A small number of people being treated with antiepileptic drugs, as well as with acetazolamide have thoughts of self-harm or even suicide. If you experience such thoughts, report it immediately to your doctor,
- Acetazolamide can modify certain lab tests. If you require some analysis, you should tell your doctor you are taking acetazolamide.

Consult your doctor, if any of the above circumstances had ever happened.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medicine only for you. Never give it to someone else.

If in doubt, consult your doctor.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including herbal products or drugs obtained without a prescription. <

Acetazolamide can modify the effects of some of these medicines and vice-versa:

- Medicines to treat heart disease, such as cardiac glycosides, eg digoxin,
- Medications for high blood pressure,
- Anticoagulant (warfarin, acenocoumarol)
- Oral antidiabetic drugs such as metformin or gliclazide
- Medicines to treat seizures, including epilepsy. Acetazolamide can raise or lower the levels of certain anticonvulsants (phenytoin, primidone, topiramate or carbamazepine)
- folic acid antagonist drugs such as methotrexate or trimethoprim
- Corticosteroids, such as cortisone or prednisone
- Amphetamines, whose effect can be increased or extended,
- Other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as dorzolamide or brinzolamide, used locally for glaucoma,
- Áacetylsalicylic acid (aspirin®) and its derivatives.
- Antiarrhythmic drugs such as quinidine, whose elimination are slowed by acetazolamide and may increase its effects,
- Methenamine, a substance to prevent urinary tract infections, whose effect can be counteracted by acetazolamide
- Lithium carbonate, a drug for severe depressive disorders, the elimination of which is favored by acetazolamide
- Sodium bicarbonate, a corrector of acidosis for IV use, whose joint use favors appearing kidney stones. Also, should be taken into account the consumption by own initiative for heartburn.
- Cyclosporine, an immunosuppressive agent, commonly used for transplant rejection treatment, whose levels may be elevated by acetazolamide.

Use with food and beverages

Food does not interfere with the absorption of this drug, so you can take it before, during or after meals.

Special physiological situations

Pregnancy and lactation:

Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Driving and using machines

Check with your doctor regularly developments of disorder that motivates the use of acetazolamide. Maybe there is some reason that prevented you properly receive the indicated doses and induce your doctor to erroneous conclusions about treatment.

Common side effects:

- Headaches,
- Diarrhea,
- Malaise, loss of appetite, thirst, metallic taste,
- Dizziness, loss of limbs control ,
- Hot flashes,
- Need to urinate often,
- Tiredness, irritability, hyperexcitability,
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes and coldness of the extremities.

Uncommon side effects:

- Depression ,
- Drowsiness or confusion,
- Loss of sexual appetite,
- tinnitus or difficulty for hearing,
- Transient myopia which improved by reducing the dose or stop treatment.

Rare and very rare side effects:

Although rarely, there have been observed severe reactions to sulfonamides, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, anaphylaxis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, and other blood dyscrasias that occasionally can be fatal.

Hypersensitivity reactions may recur when a sulfonamide is taken again, regardless of the route of administration. If signs of hypersensitivity or other serious reactions occur, stop treatment and consult your doctor. Even when a mild rash appears, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Acetazolamide can lead to unexpected allergic reactions, even if the patient lacks from a previous reaction to acetazolamide because this substance may have an allergic cross-reaction with other sulfonamides. Fortunately, severe reactions are very rare. If you notice wheezing and/or shortness of breath, swelling of the eyelids, face or lips, rash or itching (especially if it affects the whole body) should consult with your doctor immediately.

Acetazolamide can lead to photosensitivity reactions. If you suffer rashes, related or not to exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation, consult your doctor.

Patients receiving high doses of acetylsalicylic acid or its derivatives together with acetazolamide may have a greater or lesser degree of metabolic acidosis with symptoms such as anorexia, tachypnea, and lethargy, which may lead in exceptional cases to coma and even death of the patient.

Very rarely, acetazolamide may affect the blood and patient may be more prone to infections or to have blood clotting problems. If you have a sore throat or fever or bruising or small red spots on the skin should tell your doctor immediately. If you experience muscle weakness or seizures, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Very rarely, this medicine can affect the liver or kidney. If you have back pain, pain or burning during urination, difficulty urinating or interrupted stream of urine, blood in the urine or stool, stools with little color (whitish) or are black or tarry or you have a yellowish of conjunctive eye or skin (jaundice), you should tell as soon as possible to your doctor.

Prolonged use of acetazolamide can lead to kidney stone formation and can cause osteomalacia. Sometimes the drug can alter the level of blood glucose, resulting in either a higher or lower glucose level than normal.

This list does not include all adverse reactions associated with the use of acetazolamide, both well established as those that are under consideration or confirmation. In case you feel unwell, should immediately consult with the doctor who prescribed this medicine.

If you notice any side effects not listed in this website or in the leaflet accompanying the package, ask your doctor or pharmacist.