Travel/Medicine--Altitude medication (Acetazolamide) usually not contraindicated for those with Sulfa Antibiotic allergy

[2017ish]

I've never taken the main altitude sickness medication because it is a member of the extended sulfa family, to which I reacted with jaundice in my 50's. (Coca leaves work well if in Peru, but I had a really tough hike up Mount Nyiragongo in the DRC due to no acclimatization.) With a Himalayan trekking trip on the horizon, I started searching for a drug back up to acclimatization.

To my surprise, I found solid authority that there is minimal cross-reactivity between sulfa antibiotics and the type of sulfa in the altitude sickness drug. The best synopsis is in this 2019 American Academy of Allergists... "ask the expert" column. Acetazolamide and sulfonamide allergy I sent the article to my PCP; he agreed that the odds of an allergic reaction were low and prescribed me a 4 day course of treatment as a test at home (with DW monitoring me).

Today I finished my 4 day test course of Acetazolamide and it looks like I'll be fine using it on the upcoming trip.

Just an FYI for anyone else in this situation.

 

[Koolau]

I took an Anatomy and Physiology course from a prof. who had done some w*rk on acclimatization to altitude. He described a group of w*rkers who could w*rk all day at 19,000 feet but had to return to 17,000 feet to sleep or else they had altitude sickness.

I guess there are just "hard" limits to what humans can acclimatize to.

Hope the drug w*rks for you in the upcoming trip. Keep us posted. Sounds interesting.