In medical terms, it reduces pulmonary artery pressure and the formation of pulmonary edema fluid, thus reducing the risk of heart failure and HAPE.Īdditionally, Viagra can improve oxygen delivery to muscles, improving physical endurance. This counteracts the constriction caused by high altitude and thus reduces the pressure on the heart and lungs. It relaxes blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow freely through vessels. It also increases pulmonary artery pressures, which can also cause blood vessels in the lungs to leak fluid – a potentially fatal condition known as high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). This increases the demand on the heart which can lead to heart failure. People usually experience an improvement in symptoms within approximately 6 hours.īeing at high altitude causes blood vessels to constrict, known as pulmonary vasoconstriction. The recommended dosage is 4 mg, 6 hours apart. It should be used to relieve the symptoms while either maintaining altitude, or better yet, while descending.ĭexamethasone is not routinely recommended as a prophylactic agent for AMS or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), but it may reduce the risk of HAPE and AMS in susceptible persons. Therefore, someone who uses dexamethasone as a treatment should not continue to ascend. Again, dexamethasone has no effect on acclimatization itself, just the symptoms. Whereas acetazolamide treats altitude sickness by aiding acclimatization, dexamethasone treats the symptoms only. High Altitude Cerebral Edema is a serious form of altitude sickness where the brain swells and ceases to function properly.ĭexamethasone is a potent steroid hormone that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat brain edema. If you visit your travel clinic prior to climbing Kilimanjaro, they will likely prescribe Diamox and none of the below medicines for acclimatization. Diamox is known to be 75% effective in preventing AMS. It should be started 24 hours before the climb and continued throughout the expedition. The standard dosage is 125 to 250 mg every 12 hours, or 500 mg daily. In other words, it makes you breathe at a faster rate which increases the oxygen levels in your body. The resulting metabolic acidosis acts as a respiratory stimulant, increasing ventilation and improving arterial oxygenation. The most popular and effective medication is acetazolamide, known by the brand name Diamox. The recommended dose is 600 mg every 8 hours. Researchers found that those who took ibuprofen were less likely to develop acute mountain sickness than those who took a placebo. Ibuprofen is rapidly absorbed and generally well-tolerated. Ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug, works by decreasing the swelling and inflammation. ![]() This is caused by inflammatory factors that lead to leaky blood vessels and fluid build up in the brain, causing pressure in the skull. This same pill can also reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness.Īt high altitude, it is common for climbers to experience different magnitudes of headache. You know ibuprofen as the medication often used as a painkiller. There are several medicines that are known to help acclimatization and to treat AMS. Can you treat altitude sickness using OTC or prescription medications? Some people are just more susceptible than others due to their genetic makeup. It is hard, if not impossible, to predict who will get sick. It is said that 75% of people will have some form of mild AMS above 10,000 feet. ![]() The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly (rate of ascent). Although it effects every person differently, chances are you will experience some symptoms of altitude sickness, which is also called acute mountain sickness (AMS). ![]() If you’re planning to climb Kilimanjaro, then you are probably aware of the effects of altitude.
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