During a recent trip to Mexico I climbed Orizaba and I used the drug Diamox to help with the altitude. I had a good trip with a healthy appetite, no sickness what so ever. I come from 850ft. environment and didnt want to take a chance.

I am now planning a trip to Aconcagua and was considering using the Diamox again. Has anyone had any adverse reaction to this drug or think of any reason (side affects) why I shouldnt use this drug again.
Thanks

fatboy wrote:During a recent trip to Mexico I climbed Orizaba and I used the drug Diamox to help with the altitude. I had a good trip with a healthy appetite, no sickness what so ever. I come from 850ft. environment and didnt want to take a chance.

I am now planning a trip to Aconcagua and was considering using the Diamox again. Has anyone had any adverse reaction to this drug or think of any reason (side affects) why I shouldnt use this drug again. Thanks

If you can't spend the time on Aconcagua to acclimate perhaps another mountain would be better? Ultimately its a decision for each to make in my opinion

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Cheers!

Using Diamox for prolonged periods of time in combination with dehydration contributes to kidney stones. It happened to me in Peunta del Inca the day I stepped off Aco and it was quite painful.

Some will argue that 14 days is not long enough to develop kidney stones but I beg to differ. It's indicated as a possible side effect and it happened to me. I never had kidney stones before or after that trip.

So if you are going to take it, be sure to stay hydrated. If you drink plenty of water, then you should be fine.

I've used it before. No problems. However, I did only use it for about 1 week.

Thanks for replys

I really dont like to take any drugs. I will probably use xperience aconcagua to guide and acclimate under their program maybe I wont have any problems. When you plan one trip a year you want to maximize your chances of having a good trip, but not at the risk of having adverse reactions to a drug. I did have problems on Rainier but summited without Diamox. I summited Orizaba with Diamox and it was so much more enjoyable .

fatboy wrote:

I did have problems on Rainier but summited without Diamox. I summited Orizaba with Diamox and it was so much more enjoyable .

You obviously don't understand what mountain climbing is about!!!! It's not about enjoying it, it's about bragging rights, and if you use pills to cheat, you don't deserve the bragging rights!!!!

Have fun, be safe, and if you have to take pills to keep from getting sick - just do it!

It is very disheartening to hear I have been enjoying something for 30 years that I shouldnt have been. I have never felt the need for bragging rights but that is about to change screw everybody else Im going to the top. You know I believe I have met your type in the mountains and your right everybody was miserable but we bagged our bragging rights, although I never had to use mine. You know come to think of it the entire climbing team I was with in Mexico seemed to enjoy it. (What a bunch of Dorks)

I think Buz was displaying a bit of sarcasm fatboy.

radson wrote:I think Buz was displaying a bit of sarcasm fatboy.

You wouldn't say so.

Sjarwelkint wrote:

Diamox is for weeners and wankers!

Hey, I woudn't talk that way if I were you! I've seen pictures of you using poles and we all know that poles are for pussies!

hey Sjarelkwint;

Do you mind if I use you as my weiner and wanker authority. You seem so knowledgable about them.

I just love these arguments from the "purists". Taking Diamox is cheating the same way that using any drug is cheating. So the next time you climb something, leave your asperin/immodium/etc., at home. Also don't bother to bring bottled O2 on any 8000m peak as that is also cheating. (Of course, the people that like to call others cheaters rarely ever climb 8000m peaks.) One could argue that it is cheating to stay in a mountain hut. So if you're going to blast Diamox, then you'd better be sure to carry a tent on all of your mountain climbing trips. No, scratch that. The only true pure way to climb a mountain is naked and without any gear. Unless you've done that, then you've never really climbed any peak.

What he said!!!!!

+1. I care too much for my brain and friends/family to maximize risks. I really couldn't care less about what others think about taking Diamox.

My experience with Diamox:

My first 20,000 peak (in China) was done without it but I had been living between 13000 and 17000 - at the base of this peak - for a month beforehand.

A few years later I trekked in Ladakh with my wife and decided to take it because of the fast ascent time (fly and drive) and sustained period of time I'd be at altitude. Unfortunately we had tea at the house of a woman who made some clothes for my wife and I got real sick, going out of both ends. I got enough dehydrated that my body couldn't buffer the Diamox and I got severe tingling on my face and hands (this is the same reaction you get if you hyperventilate, makes sense). So make sure you are always hydrated if you take it - and watch out for that tea!

Later on I climbed Huascaran without Diamox, spending three nights at Garganta (20,000) but the sleeping was difficult.

I climbed Denali without Diamox but had a few nights with little sleep - wasn't sure if it was from altitude or from the plain old discomfort of the snow - so when I climbed Cho Oyu I decided to take Diamox along at 1/4 the recommended dose just to take the edge off for sleeping.

So I'd take some along just as a backup - if anything it will set your mind at ease that you are doing all you can for the trip.

On a side note - on this is just me but other people may find it is the same case for them - I used to wake up with a headache whenever I camped at altitude. While I would lie in my sleeping bag with the headache I would start to get nauseous until I would go outside and throw up. Then I would be fine for the rest of the trip. My partners used to be concerned (hearing retching going on outside doesn't inspire a lot of confidence) but as I would later that day be setting a strong pace or leading, they just chalked it up to my idiosyncracies. After a while I suspected it was caffeine withdrawal (I personally support Juan Valdez) and prior to any big climb I go cold turkey for about two weeks - ever since that decision my altitude headaches and nausea went away. Also sleeping with a BreatheRight, as dorky as it looks, helps too as it reduces the chance of sinus headaches.

Have a fun time on Aconcagua.