I will still take my 125 mg dose every 12 hours starting 24 hours before I climb high -- I am sure the advance time can only help. And at that dosage level, most people don't notice any side effects.
I'm not sure I'd go quite that far.
I think it would be fair to say that most people would find any side effects minor and tolerable. Most will notice increased urination (although I'd not actually call that a side effect, it is actually an ACTUAL effect of the medication, and of acclimatization), and most will have the weird taste with carbonated drinks, which can be disconcerting, if you don't expect it.
