Acetazolamide and Weakness: 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."

• Mog...
• January 17, 2013

Acetazolamide for Mountain Sickness / Altitude Sickness "I don't always use medication when I go skiing in higher altitudes, but when I do, I prefer Diamox. This is a godsend when I am sleeping at 10,000 ft and skiing at 12,000-14,000 ft. I tend to get a little clumsy and do not have the focus and sharp alertness while taking the medicine. I just need to take the medication starting a couple of days before the trip for about 4-5 days. The whole process is all about getting your body acclimated to the change in altitude from sea level to 10,000 ft in a few hours. Other preparations are still needed such as avoiding alcohol, caffeine, NSAIDs, aspirin, and sleeping agents. Start drinking a gallon of water each day while on this medicine."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2021

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I've been taking this medication for about a month so far. My opening pressure was 36, but I also was throwing up and flopping from an anxiety attack with a needle in my back, and that caused me to be laid up for 2 months alone. When I first started this medication, it was miserable to say the least. I had tingles in my hands, feet, and face, felt nauseous and weak, lightheaded, had chest pain, also skin peeling. Most of it went away after 2 weeks with a little help of lemonade for nausea and walks as much as I could. I went to see my neuro-ophthalmologist, and in 18 days I'm done, my swelling is gone and my eyesight is wonderful. It definitely is a struggle to get on this bandwagon of a med, but it works-I can vouch for that. Just remember, lots of potassium and protein really help too. Hope this helps for others, there is a light in the tunnel, and there are other medications if this isn't a suitable one for you. A shunt should be the last option due to all the risk factors that happen with it."

• 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."

• Can...
• August 31, 2015

Acetazolamide for Pseudotumor Cerebri "I have been taking this for a month, and my blood sugar keeps dropping out. I feel terrible and weak all the time. I get numbness everywhere. I have three sons to care for, and it's hard. I'm glad most of my symptoms seem to be normal, as I have read yours. The pressure in my head hasn't lessened, though. They gave me migraine medicine, but I'm afraid to take it if it'll put me to sleep during the day. I keep thinking about calling my neurologist. I'd like to know what to do at this point."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2019

Acetazolamide "I just started taking Acetazolamide 1/2 pill of 250 mg tab for my ringing in my left ear, and I'm feeling tired and kind of weak. I feel like going back to bed. My ENT Dr. prescribed this. Does anyone else out there have similar problems?"

• Est...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2017

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "All I have to say is that this pill has made my life so much better. Three years ago, this pseudotumor cerebri started after having my firstborn. I was at my heaviest at 245 lb. Ever since, I've never been the same until now. Although I deal with the side effects (sleepy, muscle weakness, tiredness, tingling), being sleepy has been the worst to cope with because I'm a mother and I have things to do, BUT at least some days I'm able to function well, and that's better than nothing. I also take potassium, which helps a lot for the tingling! I hope one day I no longer have to take these pills and finally have my life back and enjoy it! BTW, I'm 21 years old."

• mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2018

For Glaucoma "This is the third time taking acetazolamide. The main side effect for me is the eggy taste in my mouth, constant loose bowels, numbness in my hands, feet, and face, feeling cold, tired, and weak. I think I've tried almost every eye drop on the market, and pressures are still over 40. I'm on this medication for 2 months, four times a day. My operation is on 3/5/18, really hoping the side effects ease off soon, it's beginning to get me down."

• Rob...
• August 21, 2015

For Pseudotumor Cerebri "I absolutely hate it. Every time I take it, I can't eat anything or drink anything with caffeine. It tastes like copper or way off. After taking the medicine for 7 months straight, I was in so much pain I couldn't walk, I felt weak and sick. I took myself off, and I felt great. But my eyesight hadn't changed. I developed carpal tunnel on this medicine. This is what that tingling sensation is. Get it checked. Remind y'all I'm only 27 years old. I shouldn't have all this. I recently started taking it again, and it's all the same symptoms again."

• 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."

• Gfa...
• July 13, 2016

Acetazolamide for Glaucoma "Miserable! I was tired. Weak, couldn't stand or walk. My lips were chapped, burning, and the corners of my mouth were red and raw. Food and drink burned when swallowed."