Did the lower dose still help with altitude acclimatization?
Sorry for the late reply. I have been busy with trying to pack for my trip.
I think it helps, but I don't really have a way to tell. Since the first time I used it, I've been more focused on spending more time at elevation before starting a hike.
Some random thoughts:
If I take 2x125, the side effects outweigh any possible benefit. I now take 62.5 twice per day. A friend of mine that came out from Maine to hike Whitney last year was prescribed 2x250. He took it and had no side effects.
If I take the tram up San Jacinto, I always get a headache. The worse 'altitude' headache I've ever had was at Wellman's Divide, while carrying a 55 lb pack. I had a similar headache last year when carrying my son up to Lone Pine Lake. I've done C2C twice now (starting in Palm Springs and hiking to the top of San Jacinto) headache free. So it seems that speed of ascent is a factor for me, as well as exertion level.
Camping at Chicken Spring Lake a couple weeks ago, I woke up in a panic at least three times is a 3 hour period feeling like I could not breathe. I wonder is this the Cheyenne stokes Akichow mentions above. I did not take Diamox and had slept at only 1k feet the night prior.
