Which medication is commonly used for prevention and treatment of altitude sickness?

Which medication is commonly used for prevention and treatment of altitude sickness?

• A. Acetazolamide
• B. Amoxicillin
• C. Lisinopril
• D. Metformin

Answer: (A)

Acetazolamide is used to prevent and treat altitude sickness because it helps you acclimatize faster. It inhibits carbonic anhydrase, mainly in the kidneys, causing bicarbonate to be lost in the urine. This creates a mild metabolic acidosis, which signals your body to increase ventilation. The result is better oxygen intake at high altitude and a reduction in symptoms like headache, nausea, and fatigue. A common approach is to start the medication before ascending and continue for a short period after you reach altitude, often at a dose like 125 mg twice daily. It’s important to adjust or avoid use if you have significant kidney impairment, and it’s not suitable for people with a sulfa allergy. Side effects can include tingling, increased urination, or altered tastes. The other drugs listed aren’t used for altitude sickness: an antibiotic treats infections, an ACE inhibitor is for blood pressure, and a diabetes medication isn’t relevant to acclimatization or AMS prevention.

Acetazolamide is used to prevent and treat altitude sickness because it helps you acclimatize faster. It inhibits carbonic anhydrase, mainly in the kidneys, causing bicarbonate to be lost in the urine. This creates a mild metabolic acidosis, which signals your body to increase ventilation. The result is better oxygen intake at high altitude and a reduction in symptoms like headache, nausea, and fatigue.

A common approach is to start the medication before ascending and continue for a short period after you reach altitude, often at a dose like 125 mg twice daily. It’s important to adjust or avoid use if you have significant kidney impairment, and it’s not suitable for people with a sulfa allergy. Side effects can include tingling, increased urination, or altered tastes.

The other drugs listed aren’t used for altitude sickness: an antibiotic treats infections, an ACE inhibitor is for blood pressure, and a diabetes medication isn’t relevant to acclimatization or AMS prevention.