Acetazolamide

Class

• carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Indications

• glaucoma

• epileptic seizures

• benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri)

• altitude sickness

• cystinuria

• dural ectasia

Administration/Absorption

Dosage

Distribution

Mechanism

• • Prevents H2CO3 conversion to CO2 + H2O in kidney tubules

    • CO2 normally rapidly diffuses into blood

    • This is the mechanism of HCO3- reabsorption in the kidney

  • H2CO3 therefore leaves in the urine

  • H+ taken up with Cl-

    • => hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis

Excretion

Side effects

Interactions

Contraindications