Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Diamox

Does anyone know of a substitute for Diamox?

My doctor and pharmacy say it is no longer available. Cna this be true?

Acetazolamide is generic for Diamox. It is used for the treatment of Glaucoma (an eye problem). It is still available.

you should also read the posts on this board regarding ginko biloba - it has been shown to be safe and effective in high altitude human clinical trials (possibly as effective as diamox???? - but never studied head to head, so not really known)

It is still available - at least it was a week ago. :-)

Mike,

There is alway Viagra ;-), which is currently being tested for effacacy for AMS.

I wouldn't suggest you use Acetazolamide (Diamox) unless you have had a problem in the past. The side effects can stop your trip before it starts. I would also see another doctor who know something about this drug and it application.

Bill

Mike,

Acetazolamide is what the doctor prescribed, I would try a different pharmacy, went to Walgreens and they had it for me.

On the side though, started my Diamox regime yesterday (in preperation for my summit attempt this weekend), and my fingers are tingling like crazy even as I type! These are the few things you have to put up with Diamox. Another important note, is that Diamox totally dehydrates you, so make sure you are drinking TONS of water. Otherwise you will be totally dehydrated and that is an absolute No-No on the trail. I have been drinking over a gallon of water but when I went to the gym, I started cramping after about 60 mins of Cardio. You don't want that to happen to you.

I am also popping a couple of garlic pills per day to see if that helps. I might switch to that from Diamox on my next trip. While I hate the after effects of Diamox, I hate AMS even more, the last time I tried a 14er in my pre Diamox days, I was sick as a dog. So a little bit of tingling is not bad for a couple of days. Specially when work constraints prevent you from taking the best remedy for AMS, Aclimatization!

Rgds!

Thanks for all the good info. I did the Whitney summit in 2000 (then age 51), used the Diamox and had no problems or side effects. We are doing some 14ers in Colorado soon and I wanted to use it again.

Last time on Whitney, meeting maybe a hundred hikers, all ages and conditions, I saw almost no correlation between taking the pills and avoiding illness. Some people who were very young and fit took the Diamox and still were unable to summit; others older, out of shape, no time for acclimation, were not on Diamox and had no problem. Guess it is mostly just a question of metabolism.

It is getting harder to find Diamox (Acetazolamide). When I finally used the last pill in my bottle (after about 10 years) I couldn't seem to find it anywhere. Finally I got a prescription from a Canadian pharmacy located on the internet.

Diamox is just hardly ever used anymore in the Unitied States for its original purpose, treating glaucoma (high pressure inside of the eye causing nerve damage and loss of side vision). Taken for a long time to control eye pressure, Diamox just has too many side effects when compared to the new stuff on the market (mostly eye drops). I guess we need more high altitude hikers using it to keep it on the market.

mike

just take it slow and enjoy the trip. 6 of us went for whitney summit at end of july and the only person unable to make it was the guy using diamox. we all spent night before at trailhead and were doing second night at trail camp. the day of hike, he made a beeline from trailhead to trail camp, leaving most of us behind. we found him sick as a dog. no improvement in four hours so he opted not to spend the night and headed down. said he felt good soon as he neared outpost. make it leisurely and let the lungs and blood acclimate. good luck.

Altitude above 8000 ft affects me big time. I went up the trail 3 weeks ago on Diamox. Had a 50 lb pack and made it as far as Mirror Lake. Zero effects from alttide on Diamox and no side effects except for a little tingling in the fingertips. Rite Aid had it.

Check out: http://www.high-altitude-medicine.com/
for interesting insight into high altitude medical problems.

Theloneus

Mike,
I didn't use anything on a trek to Everest base camp... did fine. I've tried diamox on Kilimanjaro.... not much effect, and ginko on some of my climbs on Mt. Rainier... no noticeable effect either. I've summitted Mt. Whitney 4 times and the first two I didn't use anything and didn't have any problem. The second two time I was using a bodybuilding supplement called NO2. I do a lot of weight training. That combined with a high carbo diet for each climb starting with oatmeal, then bagels and potato chips and lots of liquids (half accelerade and half water) was dynamite. I summitted in under six hours. I actually felt so good I ran part of the way down. That might not be for everyone but it sure works for me. PS I'll be turning 60 in a couple of months. Rick