KILIMANJARO IS CALL YOU ANDย YOU MUST GO
At 5895m above sea level, Kilimanjaroโs summit falls into the โextreme altitudeโ category, and itโs not Everest, so there is no need forย supplemental oxygenย to reach Uhuru Peak safely.
However, altitude sickness and altitude-related complications are the primary reasons a climber might fail to summit or need to turn back. Altitude sickness can strike even the fitness of the climber. While, without a doubt, the best way to acclimatize is to go slowly, giving your body time to adapt, there is a medication calledย Diamoxย that can help this process.
Diamox is the brand name ofย acetazolamide, a medication primarily used to treat glaucoma, edema (drug-induced or as a result of heart failure), and certain forms of epilepsy.
Itโs widely used in the climbing fraternity to accelerate acclimatization as part of a well-planned ascent.
Itโs a prescription-only oral medication, and youโll need toย discuss with your doctor whether itโs right for you. If you have pre-existing conditions, kidney or liver complaints, it may not be suitable.
According to theย Wilderness Medical Society, the use of Diamox can significantly reduce the onset and subsequent severity of altitude sickness by speeding up the bodyโs adaptation mechanisms.ย Several studiesย have confirmed that trekkers who take low doses of Diamox, in conjunction with a suitable acclimatization protocol, are less likely to develop mountain sickness. If they do, itโs usually less severe.
Diamox is used as a preventative measure (prevention) and does not cure altitude sickness.
Acetazolamide is aย sulfonamideย medication that forces the kidneys to excrete bicarbonate. This action re-acidifies the blood (making the body believe there is a build-up of Carbon Dioxide), which acts as a respiratory stimulant. The diuretic effect results in increased urination, and the breathing stimulus can often help mitigate the periodic breathing pattern during the night.
If you take Diamox, youโll breathe deeper and urinate more.
The main side effects that climbers report are:
Diamox can interact with existing medications you are taking, andย WebMDย recommends checking the labels of all prescription and non-prescription drugs for interactions and checking with your doctor.
Theย Wilderness Medical Societyโs recommended dosageย is 125mg twice daily, starting two days before your climb.ย Dr. Peter Hackett of the Institute for Altitude Medicineย agrees. Anecdotal evidence has shown that a dose of half this amount is effective as prevention in some individuals.
Various stories go round about the use of Diamox, some of which are just myths; here are some common ones you might come across:
Myth: Diamoxย masks the symptomsย of altitude sickness
Reality: It doesnโt. It speeds up your bodyโs natural system for acclimatization. If you are sick, you will still have symptoms.
Myth: If you take Diamox, you wonโt get altitude sickness.
Reality: You can still get altitude sickness even when you take Diamox. It helps you acclimatize; it doesnโt inoculate you against AMS.
Myth: Diamox will prevent AMS from getting worse as you climb
Reality: If you have symptoms of AMS, Diamox will not protect you once you have mountain sickness.
Myth: You need Diamox to summit Kilimanjaro
Reality: you donโt. Plenty of climbers summits Kilimanjaro comfortably and safely without it.
Myth: Taking Diamox to help acclimatize is โcheating.โ
Reality: It helps speed up the natural acclimatization process. Youโve come all this way, and you want to give yourself the best chance of a successful summit.
Myth: If you stop taking Diamox, symptoms will get worse
Reality: If you stop taking Diamox during your climb, your acclimatization will revert to the bodyโs natural rate; preventing Diamox wonโt slow it down or make you ill.
Only your physician can answer that questionย if youโre allergic to sulfa medications. Itโs a matter of choice whether you want to take it; some people feel strongly about not taking unnecessary medicines. It certainly is not necessary; others want to use every tool in the box to help them with the elevation. Thereโs no right or wrong; itโs a personal choice. (And your doctorโs choice).
At your medical check-up, speak to your doctor about whether Diamox is suitable.
With your doctorโs permission, we recommend taking Diamox for a 2-4 day period as a โtrial runโ to see if you experience any side effects a couple of weeks before you depart for Kilimanjaro. If you do have side effects from the medication, they wonโt be mistaken for altitude sickness.
Every day we see different so-called โnaturalโ remedies that claim to cure everything of cancer to hair loss. Itโs no different with mountain sickness, and untested products spring up from time to time, making exaggerated claims.
The only medication with consistent results from rigorous testing is Diamox.
There are a few common ones:
Ibuprofen is usually recommended for minor pain relief on the mountain as narcotic pain medications can result in slower breathing and cause altitude problems. If you are on pain medication, speak to your doctor.
If you have a headache while climbing, itโs essential to speak to your guide before taking ibuprofen. A mild headache can be a very early signal of altitude sickness, and you donโt want to mask this and risk it worsening.
As with most of Africa, malaria is always a concern when traveling through Tanzania. As the mosquitos are generally not found above 6000ft, you are relatively safe on the mountain. However, it would be best to consider that you will be in Moshi before and after your climb when you are most at risk.
Malaria is a parasite transmitted through the bite of the female anopheles mosquito. It only takes one bite to be infected, and the illness is severe, sometimes fatal.
Talk to your doctor about antimalarial prevention, which is the most suitable for you, and where you are traveling.ย
Malaroneย is a famous but expensive brand with the fewest reported side effects. See theย Hospital for Tropical Diseasesย to learn more.
A note aboutย Larium: this particular antimalarial has been reported to have side effects that mimic altitude sickness symptoms.
Taking prevention (antimalarials) does not guarantee that you wonโt contract malaria. The only foolproof way to prevent it is to avoid getting bitten by taking precautions:
Disclaimer:Nothing in this article or any of the information it contains is designed to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any condition. Please consult your healthcare professional before using any of the suggestions contained in this article.
Questions? Weโre here to help.ย Get in touchย if you need help choosing your route or planning your incredible Kilimanjaro adventure.
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