Acetazolamide and Fatigue: What Users Say

• tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2020

Acetazolamide for Pseudotumor Cerebri "I have been on the medication for about 3 weeks, taking 1 pill - 125 mg every night. It did not help, I still had episodes. Last week I started taking 2 pills (one in the a.m. and one in the p.m.). While it seems to be holding off the episodes so far, I feel awful. My ears were already ringing, and this has just turned it up. I have nausea and a general feeling of 'I just don't feel well.' I experience weakness and fatigue. It feels like I'm breathing in air but getting no oxygen, like I'm getting no benefit from it (does that make sense?). I slept for about 8.5-9 hours last night and still woke up completely exhausted."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2016

Acetazolamide for Pseudotumor Cerebri "This drug has not helped relieve pressure, headaches, or visual impairments in my case. My vision continues to go in and out without notice, waking up every day with a headache and continuing to have one well into the late evening before bedtime. The side effects are awful! I have lost 29 lbs in three weeks! I am unable to hold anything down, everything tastes nasty or like I'm eating pennies. Constant fatigue and restlessness. The prickling in the hands and toes, not to mention the constant nausea. Every case is different. It's not working for me but could for someone else. I cannot tell anyone to not take a drug or to take a drug for IIH. Because every case is different, everyone will see different results."

• Rai...
• January 26, 2014

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I have been on acetazolamide 500 mg 3x per day. On the first day, I experienced tingling in my feet that lasted at most 5 minutes, and I woke up disoriented on whether it was 9 the same night, the next night, or the next morning. I have a ridiculously busy schedule, and I'm always tired, so I am still unsure if I have experienced fatigue due to the medicine. Get the capsules instead of the tablets if possible. Tablets release all 500 mg at once. The capsules release little by little, so you don't get all the side effects just dumped on you. With the capsules, side effects seem to be lighter in intensity. Soda tastes like crap. I already urinate frequently due to my water intake. My pseudotumor symptoms have disappeared, though."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 23, 2019

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "Acetazolamide isn’t fun, but it does work really well for me. The headaches and vision loss I was suffering from pseudotumor cerebri were way worse than the side effects of this medicine. I haven’t noticed any of the side effects alleviating over time. I experienced my hands, mouth, and feet tingling so much it hurt. It would wake me up at night, and I’d have to walk around till the tingling stopped. My mood and energy have definitely been low since taking this medication. The worst side effect is probably the way food tastes, for me, it is almost everything, not just carbonated beverages."

• Pep...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2020

For Glaucoma "I've been taking acetazolamide for glaucoma for 2 weeks now, and the lightheadedness, weakness, and low energy level are very troublesome. I've been given no other options with regard to my eye pressure condition. The weakness and dizziness are like a very bad flu condition."

• Dia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 1, 2020

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "It made my headaches and vision considerably worse at a low dose (250 mg b.i.d.). Caused a number of other side effects: horrible numbness and tingling in hands, feet, arms, legs, and face; fatigue; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; tons of kidney stones; muscle weakness; severe muscle cramping; loss of bladder control; loss of muscle control (unable to move fingers, face twitching); loss of feeling in hands and feet; cyanosis of extremities."

• Jas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2020

For Glaucoma "I was only prescribed this medication for 3 days following an eye procedure. I generally steer away from any prescription meds as much as possible. I experienced horrible tingling hands and feet, mild nausea, a little lightheaded. The worst symptom was extreme fatigue. Very relieved when the 3-day course was up."

• Lau...
• May 4, 2020

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I have dealt with years of intracranial hypertension, which after this lockdown and putting on 'a few pounds' in such a short space of time, I came out of remission. Ended up back in the hospital having a lumbar puncture once again, and my neurologist decided to put me on these tablets. I am on 3x 250mg. It is safe to say I have had nearly all of the side effects (I am on day 6) and so far... lightheadedness, severe fatigue, tingling in my fingers, feet, face, lips... but I tend to giggle them off. I found the energy to go for a walk yesterday and today (not alone, too scared in case I get too lightheaded). The tingling intensifies. I cannot drink anything fizzy, the taste is just awful! I get tiny headaches, but nothing compared to what I had to deal with when going through IIH. I thought about stopping the medication, but I will persevere for now and see how I get on for the next month. It is lucky I am on furlough, or there is no way I would be able to handle taking them and work."

• bas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "This medicine helped my migraines stop, but it caused me an insane amount of fatigue when I started it and when I stopped it. My hands, legs, feet, and sometimes other body parts tingled nonstop. Sometimes the tingle was so strong, it actually hurt. My hands tingled so much that I couldn’t write, so I had to use my computer to take notes instead. The one good thing from this medicine was the horrible migraines I’ve been suffering through never once occurred."

• Bab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 1, 2019

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri two months ago, and I have been on Diamox for about six weeks. So far, I have a love-hate relationship with this drug. It got rid of my “snow” almost immediately, but the flashing lights and blurriness are still there. Any improvement is great in my opinion. The problem is with the side effects. I have gotten used to the weird food and beverage tastes, and the tingling in my hands and feet is annoying but bearable. I have completely lost my energy. I am tired all the time, and it is very difficult to find the motivation to get through work and do what I need to get done. I feel like garbage a few days a week. I’m really struggling, but I am going to try to learn to deal with it."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2010

Acetazolamide for Pseudotumor Cerebri "I was experiencing blurred vision, fatigue, loss of appetite, lack of concentration, and an increased amount of severe headaches. After being checked for everything under the sun in blood work, I was told I was fine. About a month later, the headaches and the memory and concentration issues came along with more asthma attacks. My neurologist sent me for an MRI, MRA, and EEG, nothing. He then sent me for a spinal tap, which revealed I had pressure in my head double the normal. This happened on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 (last week). I received a phone call from my neurologist, who said I needed to start taking the medication immediately. I have had no appetite, consistent nausea, and I throw up on a regular basis. So I deal with it or have a shunt."

• Ale...
• September 20, 2017

For Glaucoma "My eye pressure was up in the 40s, and Dr. gave me 1 pill only to help get it down. About 20 mins later, I started feeling numbness all over my legs, arms, nose, and upper lip. It was annoying, but not painful. I was needing to pee very often and was super low energy the rest of the day. Glad I only had to take the 1 pill. It only slightly helped the eye pressure issue."

• Cat...
• December 12, 2016

For Seizure Prevention "I have been on this drug for a month or so now because of daily/chronic headaches that started after I was in a motorcycle accident. Eight years of my life spent every moment with a headache, and I have been everywhere for help, even to the Mayo Clinic, and no one could find a medication to help me. Finally, this was prescribed as a last attempt since it is not FDA approved to treat headaches, and since I have had at least two weeks with a headache that is much more improved than before, I can actually function most days now. This medication causes me to have severe muscle aches, weakness, fatigue, tingling in hands, feet, and face, along with nausea, but it's still better than how I was before."

• Dia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2023

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "My side effects started immediately after the first dose. I literally felt like someone was putting thorns through my feet and knee joints-a mixture of tingling and pricking sensation. As I write this, it has been seven weeks into Diamox, and I do not have any tingling. This feeling has been subsiding over time. I have remained fatigued since I started taking the drugs. This couples with dizziness, and people interpret it as laziness. It is sad, but I am positive that it will also fade. Main concern right now: tremors! My fingers are almost as shaky as those of a patient with Parkinsonism, especially the thumb. My upper lip, eyes, and facial muscles are also almost always in a tremor. Unfortunately, my neurologist just says I will be fine. Tip: Take potassium-rich foods."

• cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 13, 2022

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I don’t see sparkles or have blind spots anymore. When I get headaches, they are no longer unbearable and make me miserable. I’m able to function. They’re like a “normal” small head pain now. I take 1000 mg daily right now. I noticed a change the day I started this medication. Less pressure in my head and behind my eyes, and less painful headaches. This medication is different for everyone. My first side effect was severe heartburn. I mentioned this to my neurologist, and they recommended an OTC heartburn med. So I take that also now. Some other side effects I have had are tingling lips, mouth, legs, and fingertips. Whenever I eat, it feels like I have pop rocks in my mouth. Sometimes my knees feel tight and my feet tingle so bad it’s painful, but it only lasts a minute or two. I’ve also had lack of appetite, fatigue, small hearing loss, brain fog, and increased urination. The side effects are worth it for me. I can actually function at 85% now instead of 5%."