Diamox

[backpackerchick]

I think "premise" works here. The physiology behind the various breathing patterns is complex and not fully understood. The breathing centers in the brain respond to a number of stimuli. I think the relative importance of each is far from certain.

As for the question about the CO2 —

The buffering system in the blood:

With the Diamox, you are screwing with the left side of the equation. Diamox causes renal tubule to waste K+ in favor of H+. Increase H+ in blood; increase K+ in pee (or wee if you prefer).

No, all the CO2 does not "combine".

For more, you can go to a physiology text. Ganong is good.

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I know it wasn't necessary for me because I took it around 12,000 feet and stopped taking it before I got to 15,000 feet and eventually went to 18,000. I felt ok without the drug.

I suppose it is nice to have it there if you need it, but now that I know I don't need it, I won't buy it again.

[Anonymous]

"No, all the CO2 does not "combine"."

Spare me the quotes, BC. They come off as downright condescending. Would you prefer "react"? I could as well put quotes around "screwing" with the left side of the equation. We're not in a formal chemistry class here, and informality goes both ways, or not at all.

[Michael Williams]

I thought acetazolamide caused bicarb to excreted in the urine. I don't think it directly causes potassium excretion. However it all seems to be unclear.

Linky:
http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/4/1313

[backpackerchick]

H+ in the blood increases. K+ lost in urine — maintains charge balance. "Direct" In what sense? If the H+ in the blood didn't increase, the K+ wouldn't have gone out in the urine? Part of the mechanism.

I'm outtta here. Cialis self arrest concept much more interesting, IMO! Cialis needs it's own thread. Flashier and pricier. Why Cialis and not Viagra? — 'cause Cialis works for 36 hours so you can be ready when the moment is right.

[Hikin’ Jim]

"Not a tx. Prophylaxis. Tx dex and down fast.Bpl not phone friendly."

I believe that means "Not a treatment (tx). It's a preventative (prophylaxis). The treatment is dexamethasone (dex) and to go down to a lower elevation fast. Backpacking Light is not phone friendly" (in other words, the poster finds it hard to post using a cell phone).

[Joe Clement]

Thanks for explaining Jim. And it's taking all of the self-restraint I have not to insert a lewd comment here.

[backpackerchick]

@skinewmexico, bring it on! I love your posts! Do you blog? Tweet?

@hikin_jim, the quotation marks are really teeing (preferred word was rejected by bpl, how can that be profanity) me off! Just kidding!

BTW boys, Cialis mechanism is a bit more straight-forward. No pun intended!

[Hikin’ Jim]

…it's taking all of the self-restraints I have not to insert a lewd comment here.

You're into restraints? Kinky, dude. ;)

[Joe Clement]

Not me! I'm too boring to blog, and not narcissistic enough to tweet!

[backpackerchick]

"Kinky" not rejected as profanity? And p i s s is? No offense intended by quotation marks.

[Joe Clement]

So is the N word used to describe German soldiers in World War II.

[backpackerchick]

null

[Elena Lee]

Hartley,

It just happened that today i read this useful post on diamox here: http://www.summitclimb.com/new/default.asp?chyes=y&ltype=FAQ&ltitle=FAQ&vid=717&prid=709&faqid=443&fqpid=28&faqaid=2171#2171

I don't know if you ever had a case in AMS – i got it when climbing Mt. Rainier at abt 13,000 feet. I never thought i would be susceptible to AMS since i was at higher elevations before. i really didn't enjoy any part of my climb after it hit me. i felt like my brain was going to jump out of the skull and it took me five throw ups to feel better. so all that hydration and food that went into me during the climb was just wasted. Given, I didn't acclimatize, so it is rather "normal" what i have experienced. I'm not going back without trying it or it will be my last time in the mountains that high.

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