Pharmacological action, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
The main therapeutic effects of the drug:
- Decongestant.
- Diuretic.
The drug inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which affects water and sodium metabolism in the body. As a result, Diacarb helps eliminate edema of various origins, relieve an attack of acute glaucoma and compensate for the manifestations of a number of other conditions.
By participating in water-salt metabolism, the drug does not affect pH and does not disturb the acid-base balance. The duration of action is no more than 12 hours.
The maximum concentration of Diacarb is achieved in the blood 2 hours after its administration. It has a high ability to bind to protein structures of blood plasma. Able to overcome the placental barrier.
The drug is not metabolized in the body and is excreted in its original form by the kidneys within 24 hours.
Composition and terms of sale
The main active substance of Diacarb is acetazolamide. Available in the form of tablets of 250 mg of the active ingredient each, additionally containing cellulose, povidone, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate. Sold without a prescription, packaged in contour packs of 12 pieces and cardboard packs of 2 packs each. The average price is 300 rubles (the cost may vary, so you can find out exactly how much Diakarb costs only in pharmacies).
The content of additional ingredients in Diacarb tablets may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Once in the gastrointestinal tract, acetazolamide is rapidly absorbed and reaches peak concentrations after 2 hours.
Penetrates into plasma and blood cells, kidney tissue, in small quantities into the liver, central system, muscles and eyes. The effect on the body lasts 12 hours, after which 90% of the substance is excreted by the kidneys per day.
Vomiting is a protective reaction of the body that helps stop the intake of harmful substances and prevent poisoning. But sometimes it works not for good, but for harm - in such cases, antiemetic drugs are needed, one of which is Domperidone. Read more in the article: “What does domperidone help with?”
Indications and contraindications
The following is a list of indications for the use of Diacarb:
- Edema of any origin (with mild or moderate severity).
- Acute attack of primary glaucoma.
- Epilepsy (as part of complex treatment of the disease).
- Pathology of the respiratory system, characterized by the accumulation of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate compounds in the blood plasma.
- Mountain sickness.
The drug is strictly prohibited for use in the following conditions:
- Individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug.
- Acidosis.
- Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2.
- Addison's disease.
- Acute or chronic liver and kidney failure.
- Pregnancy.
- Lactation.
- Decreased potassium concentration in the blood.
Properties of the drug
The drug produces a diuretic and decongestant effect. Since the drug belongs to the category of diuretics, Diacarb has a diuretic effect for intracranial pressure in adults. This occurs due to the process of inhibition of carbonic anhydrase, which takes part in the metabolism of carbonic acid.
This enzyme is inhibited in the kidneys due to the fact that the amount of sodium and bicarbonate ions that enter the blood from urine decreases.
The drug is actively used not only for increased intracranial pressure. Diacarb can be used for some lung pathologies - in particular, for the development of pulmonary heart failure.
Since the active substance of the drug normalizes water-salt metabolism, it does not cause disturbances in the acid-base balance. The medicine is effective for 12 hours. Moreover, the maximum level in the blood is reached 2 hours after taking the drug.
Due to its good connection with blood proteins, the active substance diacarb is excreted by the kidneys throughout the day.
Indications
In most cases, this drug is used to treat high intracranial and intraocular pressure. To prevent the side effects of Diacarb, the doctor may prescribe an additional drug - asparkam.
At the same time, it is strictly forbidden to use diacarb on your own. The effectiveness and safety of this medication should be determined by a doctor based on the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Indications for prescribing the drug include the following:
glaucoma; mild or moderate edema syndrome, including; – in this case, diacarb is an addition to the main therapy; altitude sickness; disturbances in lung function.
Contraindications
The use of Diacarb is prohibited in the following cases:
high sensitivity to the ingredients included in the drug; acidosis; hypocorticism; diabetes; liver failure; pregnancy; lactation; hypokalemia; Addison's disease; uremia; acute form of kidney failure. It is very important to take special care with edema that is associated with kidney and liver diseases. It is worth considering that the combination of diacarb with a large amount of acetylsalicylic acid can lead to negative health consequences.
Side effects and clinical manifestations of overdose
Short-term use of Diacarb can provoke the development of hypokalemia, paresthesia and limb cramps, muscle weakness, acidosis, visual and auditory disturbances, appetite disorders, itching, and an allergic reaction such as urticaria.
Long-term treatment with the drug causes drowsiness, dyspeptic syndrome, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia and agranulocytosis in some patients.
Overdose symptoms are similar to adverse reactions. Treatment is symptomatic. Immediate discontinuation of the drug and contact a doctor is necessary.
Side effects
If the dosage is incorrect or other doctor’s prescriptions are violated, Diacarb can cause unpleasant symptoms.
Among them it is worth highlighting:
- itching sensation;
- metabolic acidosis;
- hypokalemia;
- anorexia;
- weakness of muscle tissue;
- hives;
- skin redness;
- noise in ears;
- paresthesia;
- myopia.
Quite often, diacarb provokes the appearance of cramps and weakness of muscle tissue.
Prolonged use of this medication can lead to unpleasant symptoms and diseases:
- nephrolithiasis;
- glucosuria;
- disorientation;
- leukopenia;
- vomit;
- nausea;
- increased drowsiness;
- allergic reactions;
- stool disorder;
- hemolytic anemia;
- problems with touch;
- agranulocytosis.
Instructions for use Diacarb
The daily dosage and treatment regimen may vary. Features of admission depend on the presence of concomitant diseases, the age of the patient, as well as the type and severity of the underlying pathology.
For mild and moderate swelling, you should take 250 to 400 mg of the drug per day once.
For the treatment of an acute attack of glaucoma, adult patients are prescribed 250 milligrams of Diacarb every 4 hours. For pediatric patients, the dosage is calculated at 10-15 mg per kilogram of weight.
To prevent mountain sickness, it is recommended to take 500 mg of the drug 1-2 days before and during the ascent.
For patients with epilepsy, Diacarb is prescribed in a dosage of 250 to 500 mg per day for three days.
Prescription of Asparkam and Diacarb for infants
If Asparkam and Diacarb were prescribed to an infant, then their dosage, method of administration, time and frequency of doses should be determined by a qualified doctor, based on the individual case of the disease.
The dosage of Diacarb and Asparkam for infants, according to Komarovsky, depends on the following factors:
- Child's weight.
- The amount of cerebrospinal fluid.
- General background of the baby's health.
- The complexity of the disease.
Usually, babies under 12 months are prescribed a quarter of a Diacarb tablet once a day, and Asparkam in three doses a day, the dosage of which must be determined by a doctor. The tablets must be crushed to a powder and diluted with a few drops of water and poured into the child’s mouth. After taking it, it is recommended to put the baby to the breast to remove the bitter taste of the tablets.
For hypokalemia (lack of potassium in the baby’s blood), doctors prescribe Asparkam intravenously. At the mother's choice, this can be a drip method or a jet injection.
To avoid overdose, the drug is diluted with a 5% glucose solution and administered very slowly.
Reviews about the medication
Reviews from patients and doctors about the drug Diacarb are very different, both positive and negative.
Most patients note the high effectiveness of the drug, as well as its affordable cost.
Some patients speak negatively about Diakarb. For some it did not help at all, but for others it caused undesirable reactions, due to which they had to stop taking the drug. Most often, patients experience severe muscle weakness and cramps as a result of hypokalemia.
On thematic forums, the question often arises about the possibility of treatment with Diacarb during pregnancy and lactation. Currently, medical professionals do not prescribe it to expectant and nursing mothers, since there is no reliable data on the safety of its use in this category of patients.
Side effects
Treatment with the drug is usually well tolerated by the body, but sometimes side effects may develop:
- headaches, dizziness;
- drowsiness, decreased performance, movement coordination disorders;
- fever;
- visual disturbances;
- convulsions;
- metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalance;
- digestive disorders;
- allergic manifestations;
- changes in blood test values (anemia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis);
- in rare cases, bone marrow damage.
Side effects of Diakarb in adults, as a rule, develop with long-term use of the drug or violation of the recommended dosages.
If severe side effects develop, you must stop taking the pills and consult a specialist to replace the drug.
In case of overdose, an increase in the severity of side effects is observed; treatment is symptomatic; hemodialysis is used to remove large doses of acetazolamide from the body.
