Introduction

Name

• Acetazolamide.

Class of drug

• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

Description

Chemical name

• N-[5-(aminosulfonyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl]acetamide.
• 5-acetamido-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-sulfonamide.

Molecular formula

• C4H6N4O3S2.

Storage requirements

• Store at room temperature.
• After reconstitution: injection is stable for one week when refrigerated - use within 24 h without preservative.

Uses

Indications

• Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor diuretic which is primarily used for the treatment of acute glaucoma   Glaucoma   and as long-term medical control of glaucoma in visual eyes.
• It reduces the production of bicarbonate in aqueous humour and the water secreted with it, thus lowering intraocular pressure.

Administration

Precautions

Interactions

with other drugs

• Primidone   Primidone   absorption may be inhibited by oral acetazolamide.
• Acetazolamide alkalinizes urine, thus the excretion rate of weak bases may be decreased, but weak acids increased.
• Concomitant use of corticosteroids may exacerbate potassium depletion causing hypokalemia   Blood biochemistry: potassium  .

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Referred papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant, Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. BSAVA, UK.
• Plumb D (1999) Veterinary Drug Handbook. 3rd Edn. Iowa State University Press.