Low doses of acetazolamide to aid accommodation of men to altitude.

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Abstract
Five men were decompressed to a pressure altitude of 4,270 m after pretreatment with 750 mg of acetazolamide and, in a separate run, a placebo in a "double-blind" study. They remained there about 6 hr. and 2 sets of measurements, beginning 1 and 3 hr. after ascent, were made to compare with a ground-level control. Similarly, 6 men were decompressed to 4,880 m where only 1 set of measurements was made beginning 1 hr. after ascent. In a 3rd series, 3 men stayed at 4,270 m for 5 days. In the short-term experiments, standard bicarbonate, pH, and alveolar PCO2 were significantly lowered by pretreatment with acetazolamide. Insignificant increases were noted in alveolar PO2 and ventilation. In the 5-day experiments similar results were found on the 1st day at altitude, but on the 2nd and 3rd days highly significant increases in ventilation and alveolar PO2 were measured when subjects had been pretreated with acetazolamide. On the 4th and 5th days at altitude, all differences between placebo- and acetazolamide-treated subjects had disappeared. Correction of respiratory alkalosis did appear to increase ventilation and alveolar PO2 but the full effect was not seen until the 2nd day at altitude.

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