Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Diamox

Hello, I am wondering whether or not to bring Diamox on our 2 night trip, staying at trail camp. We have 5 people who have all hiked Mt. Baldy, 10,000 ft, many times with no problems. I know diamox doesn't completely take away altitude sickness, but I wonder if it would help sleeping at 12,000 ft trail camp. If anyone has any experience with diamox, how it helps, and it's side effects, I would appreciate your posts.

I've used Diamox several times for high altitude places (e.g. Denali, Kilimanjaro) and I find it a tremendous help (I've had altitude problems at 9000 ft.)

I went to Denali twice. The first time I had Diamox just for emergencies, and didn't use it, as I didn't understand enough about it. That time I basically didn't sleep for 2 weeks, as I would wake up short of breath throughout each night. My second time there I used 125 mg. at suppertime, and it made a huge difference. It really increases the respiratory depth, and therefore one gets more oxygen. Since then, if I'm at altitude I use 125 mg. twice/day. It doesn't mask altitude sickness, just helps with breathing, which can prevent altitude sickness.

As for side effects, I didn't particularly notice increased urination, but there was plenty of tingling of fingers and toes and occasionally arms and/or legs, which didn't bother me. The tingling was periodic for me, not all the time. If you're just going 2 nights at trail camp, then you would only need it for 4 days total (2 days prior to altitude to start) and maybe won't have as much tingling. I've used it for weeks at a time.

Hiking somewhere at altitude and spending the night at altitude are 2 different things. I certainly would use it if sleeping at that altitude, especially if I was coming from sea level beforehand. Others, if well acclimatized may be fine without.

Yes, Diamox can help, but talk to your physician before taking it to make sure there are no interactions with anything else you may be taking. Follow you doctor's recommend dosage, not any second-hand opinions from other users of that medication, including well-intentioned posters on this forum.

It is a mild diuretic, which will require that you drink a lot more water to help counteract that side affect.

Learn from the experts:

http://www.basecampmd.com/expguide/diamox.shtml

I don't know about the US, but in Canada Diamox requires a prescription, so you would have to talk to a doctor. Your doctor may not be familiar with this use of the medication (it's a medication used for glaucoma). When I first asked my doctor, in the 90's, he sent me to a respiratory specialist for a prescription, and I had to show up with research in hand. Today, of course, your doctor can go on line if he or she is not familiar with something.

It is true that the literature states starting Diamox 2 days prior to sudden increase in altitude, and use for the first 2 days at altitude. So certainly follow the advice of your doctor, or what you feel is best for you, and not feel that you need to follow the advice of non medical professionals. However the OP asked for experiences with Diamox.