Acetazolamide (traded under the brand name Diamox) is the wonder drug that fights AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), and the first treatment doctors give to somebody suffering from mountain sickness. Indeed, many travellers use it as a prophylactic, taking it during the trek up Kilimanjaro to prevent Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
How does Diamox work?
Diamox
works by acidifying the blood, which stimulates breathing, allowing a greater
amount of oxygen to enter into the bloodstream. Always consult with your doctor
before taking Diamox to discuss the risks and benefits. If you do take it, remember
to try it out first back at home to check for allergic reaction, as Diamox is a
sulfa-derivative, and some people do suffer from side effects, particularly a
strange tingling sensation in their hands and feet.
What are the disadvantages of taking
Diamox on Kilimanjaro?
The
disadvantage with taking AMS prophylactically, at least according to one doctor
serving on the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, is that you are using up one
possible cure. That is to say, should you begin to suffer from AMS despite taking
Diamox, doctors are going to have to look for another form of treatment to
ensure your survival. For this reason, a number of trekkers are now busy buying
the drug and taking it up the mountain with them, but are using it only as a
last resort when symptoms are persistent. If you are unfamiliar with Diamox and
uncertain about the effect it could have on you, this is perhaps the best
option.
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