Acetazolamide

Category: pharmacological

Aliases: Diamox

Pharmacological Mechanism

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor — blocks proximal tubule HCO3- reabsorption + reduces aqueous humor production + reduces CSF production. Used for glaucoma, altitude sickness prophylaxis, idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Metabolic acidosis + paresthesias common.

Half-Life (t½)

PO: 8h, IV: 8h

Dosing Guidelines

• PO: Typical 250 mg (Range: 125–1000 mg)

Target Organ Systems

• cardiovascular

Pathways It Modulates

• Aqueous humor / IOP regulation (inhibitor) — carbonic anhydrase (systemic)
• Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor paresthesia (inhibitor) — CA II + IV
• Renal tubular transport (inhibitor) — carbonic anhydrase (PCT + ciliary body)

Chemical Identifiers

• PubChem CID: 1986
• Formula: C4H6N4O3S2
• Molecular weight: 222.24 g/mol
• InChIKey: BZKPWHYZMXOIDC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES: CC(=O)NC1=NN=C(S1)S(=O)(=O)N

References

• PMID 29626002
• PMID 30878812