Have Low Thyroid, Anxiety And Panic Disorder. Worried About Mountain Sickness. Planning To Take Acetazolomide. Reactions?

Posted on Sun, 21 Jul 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 21 Jul 2013 Answered on

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : We are travelling to china and Tibet. I am 61 with HBP, low thyroid, anxiety and panic disorder. My husband is 70 with HBP, a 4.1cm abdominal aerotic aneurism . We are concerned about acute mountain sickness. No history of previous AMS at any higher altitude than the Canadian prairies, we have been up to around 6000 ft before. Tibet is almost at 0000ft. Can HACE or HAPE occur easily at 0000 ft? We are planning on taking acetazolomide but are concerned with interactions with meds we are on. I take synthroid , citalopram, hydrochloridiazide, alprazolam, and when needed Symbicort and salbutamol for breathing issues in smoggy areas or if respiratory infection. My husband takes losartan k/hct. Would the inhalers assist in acute mountain sickness? We are flying in so it will not be a slow accclimization. Thank you, all information given appreciated

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (9 hours later)

Hello

Thanks for asking your query on health care magic.

I have gone through your query in detail
Just a few more things I would like to know
1. What is the dosage of citalopram that you are on
2. How frequently are you using the salbutamol and other puffs at present.
3. What is the reason for visit to tibet? Is it recreational or you will be going around some terrains?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks and regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Srikanth Reddy (4 hours later)

I take 10 mg of citalopram daily, it is a tourist trip, I haven't used the inhaler for three or four months since I had had a bronchial incident.

Answered by Dr. Srikanth Reddy (9 hours later)

Hello
At age 61 if you are planning to travel to such high altitudes of 12,000 Ft, then I am sure you are aware of the risks involved. However the risk of you developing HAPE is only slightly over 1%. So that is quite safe zone. You should take acetazolamide.
Acetazolamide, that too for such a short time, may not have any significant interaction with your current medications. Do take all your medications along and the inhalers that you have stated should be used if you have any bronco constriction. Those may not be useful for HAPE.
Try to reduce your exertion to the minimum and do consult a doctor when ever you need help.
Hope I am of help to you,
Thanks and regards,
Dr. Srikanth Reddy MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar