Ad. Wright et al., CARBONIC-ANHYDRASE INHIBITION IN THE IMMEDIATE THERAPY OF ACUTE MOUNTAIN-SICKNESS, Journal of wilderness medicine, 5(1), 1994, pp. 49-55
The objective was to assess the effectiveness of acetazolamide and the
relative speed of response to acetazolamide and methazolamide on bloo
d gases and symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Thirty-seven su
bjects suffering from AMS were given 1-1.5 g acetazolamide or 400-500
mg methazolamide in randomized, double-blind trials during three exped
itions to high altitude (3200-5486 m). Both drugs improved PaO2 by 7.7
-8.0 mmHg, with a more rapid response at 3 h following methazolamide.
Symptom scores improved over 24 h following both drugs, but headaches
were induced in 28% of subjects. It was concluded that treatment with
acetazolamide and methazolamide improves arterial oxygenation and symp
toms of AMS. The differences in time of response between the two drugs
were not proven to be clinically important.