Methazolamide is a medication used to manage glaucoma, a condition of increased eye pressure. According to Drugs.com, it belongs to a category of medicines called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and works to stop carbonic anhydrase, a protein in your body, from working. Decreasing carbonic anhydrase lessens fluid production in your eye and subsequently decreases eye pressure. Methazolamide is a tablet typically taken two to three times a day, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Common Side Effects
Methazolamide can cause a tingling sensation in your arms and legs, especially when you first begin taking this medication, according to the National Library of Medicine. It can also cause hearing problems and tinnitus, a condition in which you have a sensation of ringing sounds in your ears. In some instances, you can develop fatigue, drowsiness or confusion. Use caution if you decide to drive or become involved in activities that require alertness. Other prevalent side effects include nausea, vomiting, a poor appetite, frequent urination and changes in your taste. Metazolamide can also cause diarrhea. Inform your doctor when these symptoms persist.
Dangerous Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, harmful side effects include pain in your groin or sides, a rash, sore throat or fever. It can also affect your blood cell levels. Lowered platelet (substance necessary to heal wounds) counts can cause abnormal bleeding and bruising. Seek medical help at once if you have these side effects.
Other Side Effects
The University of Maryland Medical Center states that methazolamide can cause itching, photosensitivity (condition in which you are prone to sunburns when exposed to sunlight), hypokalemia (low potassium levels), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) and weight loss. It can also cause black stools, hematuria (bloody urine), leukopenia (low white blood cells counts, which make you susceptible to infection) and ataxia (lack of coordination). Call your doctor if you experience these effects.
Contraindications
Avoid methazolamide if you suffer from low sodium (hyponatremia) or low potassium (hypokalemia), kidney or liver disease and adrenal gland (located on top of your kidneys and responsible for producing adrenaline) disease, says the National Library of Medicine. Taking methazolamide if you have these conditions can provoke the aforementioned side effects.
You should not chronically take methazolamide if you suffer from angle-closure glaucoma (condition characterized by an immediate increase in eye pressure), warns the National Library of Medicine. Your eye pressure may remain increased, despite methazolamide use.
Avoid methazolamide use when you are taking a sulfonamide medication. These combination of drugs can lead to a severe rash, renal calculus (kidney stones) and bone marrow depression (low blood cell counts). Talk to your doctor to find out whether your currrent medications belong to the sulfonamide class of medicines.
Do not combine steroid medications with methazolamide. This can lead to a potentially dangerous condition called hypokalemia (low potassium).
The National Library of Medicine says that a high dose of aspirin and methazolamide can cause difficulty breathing, fatigue, coma and even death.
It is unclear whether methazolamide can harm your baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, it is vital you tell your doctor whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding so she can compare the benefits and risks of continuing methazolamide.
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