Acetazolamide Sustained-Release Oral Capsules

What is this medicine?

ACETAZOLAMIDE (a set a ZOLE a mide) is a diuretic. It helps you make more urine and to lose salt and excess water from your body. It helps treat some kinds of glaucoma. It also treats and prevents symptoms of altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness).

How should I use this medicine?

Take this drug by mouth. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Keep taking it unless your health care provider tells you to stop.

Talk to your health care provider about the use of this drug in children. While it may be prescribed for children as young as 12 for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions (skin rash, itching or hives; swelling of the face, lips, or tongue)

• high acid levels (trouble breathing; fast, irregular heartbeat; headache; confusion; unusually weak or tired; nausea, vomiting)

• infection (fever, chills, cough, sore throat, pain or trouble passing urine)

• liver injury (dark yellow or brown urine; general ill feeling or flu-like symptoms; loss of appetite, right upper belly pain; unusually weak or tired, yellowing of the eyes or skin)

• low red blood cell counts (trouble breathing; feeling faint; lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired)

• redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth

• unusual bruising or bleeding

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care provider if they continue or are bothersome):

• decreased hearing, ringing of the ears

• diarrhea

• increased thirst

• kidney stones (blood in the urine; pain when urinating; pain the lower back or side)

• loss of appetite

• feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; muscle cramps or pain)

• nausea

• pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet

• unusual sweating

• vomiting

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• methazolamide

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• aspirin and aspirin-like medicines

• cyclosporine

• lithium

• medicine for diabetes

• methenamine

• other diuretics

• phenytoin

• primidone

• quinidine

• sodium bicarbonate

• stimulant medicines like dextroamphetamine

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Throw away any unused drug after the expiration date.

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

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• diabetes, high blood sugar

• glaucoma

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• low adrenal gland function

• lung or breathing disease (COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema)

• an unusual or allergic reaction to acetazolamide, sulfa drugs, other drugs, foods, dyes or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your health care provider for regular checks on your progress. Tell your health care provider if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.

This drug may cause serious skin reactions. They can happen weeks to months after starting the drug. Contact your health care provider right away if you notice fevers or flu-like symptoms with a rash. The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this drug affects you. Do not stand up or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells.