Effect of Acetazolamide on Acute Mountain Sickness

Abstract The influence of acetazolamide on acute mountain sickness was tested in a double-blind study of forty-three volunteers given acetazolamide or placebo, 250 mg every eight hours, for 32 hours before and 40 hours after abrupt transportation from sea level to 12,800 feet. In response to hypoxia, control subjects hyperventilated and developed mild respiratory alkalosis with increased blood pH and reduced carbon dioxide tension and bicarbonate within eight hours after arrival at altitude. These changes persisted over the five days of the study. Alkalosis was prevented in the acetazolamide-treated group, with a greater increase in ventilation and alveolar oxygen tension and a greater decrease in carbon dioxide tension and bicarbonate than in controls. Significant reductions in frequency and severity of the most prominent symptoms of acute mountain sickness — headache, insomnia and gastrointestinal symptoms — were observed in treated subjects. In control subjects, occurrence and severity of symptoms corr...