ACETAZOLAMIDE

Brand Name & Strength

Diamox® Sodium 500 mg

Reconstitution

Reconstitute 1 vial with at least 5 ml of WFI to provide a solution with concentration ≤100 mg/ml [1,2,3,4]

Further Dilution

IV infusion

Dilute reconstituted solution with diluent to a final volume of 500 ml

Diluent

NS, DS

Administration & Infusion rate

Slow IV

Administer over 3 min

IV infusion

Administer over 4 – 8 hr

Storage & Stability

RT

(<25 oC)

Fridge

(2 – 8 oC)

After Reconstitution

- 24 hr

After dilution

- -

Remarks

Direct IV route is preferred as IM route is painful due to the alkaline pH of the solution. [1,3]

The pH of parenteral acetazolamide is 9.1. Care should be taken during IV administration of alkaline preparations to avoid extravasation and possible development of skin necrosis.

Initial infusion rate should be no more than 0.25 mg/min (15 mg/hr); once patient tolerance to infusion is well established, may increase infusion rate in increments of 0.05 to 0.08 mg/min (3 – 5 mg/hr) with each subsequent infusion.

For patients weighing <30 kg, maximum infusion rate is 0.25 mg/min.

For patients weighing ≥ 30 kg, duration of therapy should be at least 1.5 hr.

Slow infusion rate if infusion reaction occurs.