Acetazolamide Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 9, 2024.

Applies to acetazolamide: intravenous powder for solution.

Other dosage forms:

• oral capsule extended release, oral tablet

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause serious skin reactions (eg, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis). Check with your doctor if you have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, itching, joint or muscle pain, red irritated eyes, red skin lesions, often with a purple center, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, skin rash, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

Check with your doctor right away if you have blood in the urine, nausea and vomiting, pain in the groin or genitals, or sharp back pain just below the ribs. These may be symptoms of kidney stones.

Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or tightness, chills, cough or hoarseness, fever with or without chills, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, headache, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth, swollen or painful glands, trouble breathing, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These maybe symptoms of serious blood problems (eg, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia).

Receiving this medicine together with aspirin may cause change or loss of consciousness, loss of appetite, rapid shallow breathing, trouble breathing, or weight loss. Talk with your doctor if you have any concerns about this.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of acetazolamide

Along with its needed effects, acetazolamide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking acetazolamide:

Other side effects of acetazolamide

Some side effects of acetazolamide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to acetazolamide: compounding powder, injectable powder for injection, intravenous powder for injection, oral capsule extended release, oral tablet.

General adverse events

Adverse reactions occurring early in therapy have included paresthesias, tinnitus, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and drowsiness.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions including shock and fatalities^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Blood dyscrasias such as aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia purpura^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Loss of appetite, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia with long term therapy, hyponatremia osteomalacia with long-term therapy, hyper/hypoglycemia^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Photosensitivity
• Frequency not reported: Skin reactions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria, rash including erythema multiforme^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, melena^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal liver function, cholestatic jaundice, fulminant hepatic necrosis, hepatitis^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Very common (10% or more): Paresthesias (up to 20%)
• Frequency not reported: Drowsiness, headache, dizziness, taste alteration, ataxia, flaccid paralysis, convulsions, sensory disturbances^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Confusion, irritability, depression, excitement, reduced libido^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Transient myopia^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Renal colic, increased risk of nephrolithiasis, renal failure^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Polyuria, polydipsia, crystalluria, renal calculi, hematuria, glycosuria^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Growth retardation in children^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Flushing, malaise, thirst, fatigue, fever, hearing disturbances^[Ref]

Local

• Frequency not reported: Injection site pain^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Acetazolamide side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer