{"title":"Altitude Sickness Treatment","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"acetalazolamide","title":"Acetalazolamide","description":"\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide is a prescription tablet used to prevent and treat altitude sickness. When you climb above 2,500 metres, the air holds less oxygen. Your body struggles to keep up. That struggle can bring on headaches, nausea, dizziness, and broken sleep. Left unchecked, it can turn dangerous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide helps your body adjust faster. It works by changing the acidity of your blood, which pushes your lungs to breathe deeper and take in more oxygen. It also acts as a mild diuretic, increasing urine output, which further aids acclimatisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a prescription-only medicine. Our clinician will check it's right for you before we dispense it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003c!-- How to use --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow to use\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor preventing altitude sickness, the usual dose is 125mg (half a 250mg tablet) taken twice a day. Start taking it 1 to 2 days before you begin your ascent. Continue while you are gaining altitude and for 2 to 3 days after you reach your highest point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you are treating mild acute mountain sickness, the dose rises to 250mg (one tablet) twice a day. Continue until your symptoms settle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwallow the tablets with plenty of water. You can take them with or without food. Drink 3 to 4 litres of fluid a day while at altitude, as the medicine increases how much you urinate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStopping acetazolamide does not cause your symptoms to bounce back. You will not feel worse than you would have without it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide is not a substitute for descent. If your symptoms become severe, if you cannot walk in a straight line, if you are breathless at rest, or if you cough up frothy or pink spit, descend immediately. These are signs of serious altitude illness that can kill.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c!-- Main Ingredients --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eMain Ingredients\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach tablet contains 250mg of acetazolamide. Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It changes the way your kidneys handle bicarbonate, which shifts the acidity of your blood and stimulates your breathing. The result is that your body moves more oxygen into your bloodstream, helping you cope with thinner air.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther ingredients typically include lactose, maize starch, sodium starch glycollate, and magnesium stearate. If you have a lactose intolerance, let our clinician know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c!-- Side Effects \u0026 Cautions --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eSide Effects \u0026amp; Cautions\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most common side effects are tingling in the fingers, toes, and face (paraesthesia), increased urination, and an altered taste (fizzy drinks may taste flat or metallic). These are signs the medicine is working and are usually harmless. They settle once you stop taking it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther common side effects include nausea, loss of appetite, drowsiness, and dizziness. Taking the tablets with food can help with stomach upset.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRare but serious side effects include severe skin reactions (such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome), liver damage, blood disorders, and kidney stones. Drinking plenty of water helps reduce the risk of kidney stones. If you develop a rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual bleeding or bruising, or severe pain in your side or back, stop the medicine and get medical help straight away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWho should not take it\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou should not take acetazolamide if you are allergic to it or to sulphonamide medicines, if you have severe kidney or liver disease, if you have low sodium or potassium levels in your blood, or if you have a condition called hyperchloraemic acidosis. It is also not suitable if you have Addison's disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you take it during pregnancy?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide is not recommended during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, speak with our clinician about alternatives. It is also best avoided while breastfeeding.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan you drink alcohol?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlcohol makes altitude sickness worse and increases dehydration. Acetazolamide can also cause drowsiness. Combining the two is a bad idea at altitude. Avoid alcohol while acclimatising.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOther medicines\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide can interact with a number of other medicines. These include high-dose aspirin and other salicylates, lithium, certain epilepsy drugs, and some diabetes medicines. It can also reduce the effectiveness of the oral typhoid vaccine. Tell our clinician about every medicine you take before starting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow early should I order?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou need to start taking acetazolamide 1 to 2 days before your ascent. Order well in advance of your trip so you have time to try a test dose at home. This lets you check for side effects before you are on a mountain with no easy way down.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c!-- Patient Information Leaflet --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003ePatient Information Leaflet\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide is not right for everyone, and there are things you should know before you start. Here is all the official information. If anything is not clear, let our clinician know and they can talk it through with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.medicines.org.uk\/emc\/product\/2785\/pil\"\u003eAcetazolamide 250mg Tablets PIL\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"POM","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57375975702911,"sku":"ACETABS","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/0601\/6383\/files\/Acetalazolamide_ff698a05-6ded-47ce-bdfe-dc7a2f8b3c0d.png?v=1776633948"},{"product_id":"acetalozolamide","title":"Acetalozolamide","description":"\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide works differently to travel sickness tablets. It helps your body adjust to altitude by changing how your kidneys handle bicarbonate. This supports your breathing pattern and can help your body acclimatise more smoothly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s not suitable for everyone. A clinician will check your medical history, other medicines, and your travel plans before supplying it. They’ll also explain possible side effects and how to take it safely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"collapsible-content__inner\"\u003e\n\u003c!-- How to use --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow to use\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"collapsible__content accordion__content rte\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHalf a tablet (125mg) twice daily.  This should be started two days before ascent over 2500m and then continued twice daily until you have reached your highest altitude or you are suitably acclimatised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis medicine is being used \"off-label\". This means that it is not being used for its licenced indication. It is however the most commonly prescribed medicine for preventing acute mountain sickness in travellers visiting high altitudes.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c!-- Side Effects \u0026 Cautions --\u003e\n\u003cdetails open=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eSide Effects \u0026amp; Cautions\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"collapsible__content accordion__content rte\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImportant Information\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcetazolamide 250mg Tablets can affect the liver and kidneys. If you experience pain in your lower back, pain or burning when you pass urine, have difficulty passing urine, or you stop passing urine, have blood in your urine, pale stools, or if your skin or eyes look slightly yellow, you should contact your doctor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo Acetalozolamide tablets have any side effects?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRare cases of skin rashes including an increased sensitivity to sunlight have been reported. If you experience any unusual skin rashes, inform your doctor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContact a doctor immediately if you experience a serious skin reaction: a red, scaly rash with bumps under the skin and blisters (exanthematous pustulosis).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"POM","offers":[{"title":"250mg \/ 15 Tablets","offer_id":57375976620415,"sku":null,"price":26.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"250mg \/ 30 Tablets","offer_id":57375976653183,"sku":null,"price":37.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0948\/0601\/6383\/files\/7pill-silver_blister-pack-1_a58da7b4-572a-419f-afc2-52c9be5f797d.png?v=1776633954"}],"url":"https:\/\/chemist2home.co.uk\/collections\/altitude-sickness.oembed","provider":"Chemist 2 Home","version":"1.0","type":"link"}