Altitude sickness medical therapy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farima Kahe M.D. [2]

Overview

Pharmacologic medical therapies for altitude sickness include acetazolamide, dexamethasone. Pharmacologic therapy for nausea and vomiting of altitude sickness include promethazine, ondansetron.

Pharmacologic medical therapies for altitude sickness include acetazolamide, dexamethasone. Pharmacologic therapy for headache of altitude sickness is NSAIDS and nausea and vomiting of altitude sickness are treated by promethazine, ondansetron.

Pharmacologic therapy of high altitude sickness include:^[1]
- Preferred regimen (1): Acetazolamide 250 mg PO q12h
- Preferred regimen (2): Dexamethasone 4 mg PO q6h

Pharmacologic therapy for headache of altitude sickness include:^[2]^[3]
- Preferred regimen (1): Acetaminophen 325-650 mg PO q4h PRN
- Alternative regimen (2): Ibuprofen 200-400 mg q4-6h
- Alternative regimen (3): Aspirin 325-650 mg PO q4-6h PRN

Pharmacologic therapy for nausea and vomiting of altitude sickness include:^[4]
- Preferred regimen (1): Promethazine 12.5-25 mg PO q4-6h PRN
- Aletrantive regimen (2): Ondansetron 4mg PO q8h

↑ Stream JO, Grissom CK (2008). “Update on high-altitude pulmonary edema: pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment”. Wilderness Environ Med. 19 (4): 293–303. doi:10.1580/07-WEME-REV-173.1. PMID 19099331.
↑ Burtscher M, Likar R, Nachbauer W, Philadelphy M (April 1998). “Aspirin for prophylaxis against headache at high altitudes: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial”. BMJ. 316 (7137): 1057–8. PMC 28508. PMID 9552906.
↑ Broome JR, Stoneham MD, Beeley JM, Milledge JS, Hughes AS (January 1994). “High altitude headache: treatment with ibuprofen”. Aviat Space Environ Med. 65 (1): 19–20. PMID 8117220.
↑ Shapiro R (2008). “Ondansetron for the treatment of nausea associated with altitude sickness”. Wilderness Environ Med. 19 (4): 317–8. doi:10.1580/07-WEME-LE-176.1. PMID 19099324.