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Suggest Ways To Manage Headaches And Bad Taste In Mouth When On Diamox
Question: As to my health it's actually not too bad. I had tried to increase the diamox to 1gm bid but I became fatigued, had an unpleasant taste in my mouth at all times and any food I ate basically tasted lousy. So I went back to my regular 750mgm bid and those symptoms are much improved. I might add that interestingly enough I developed headaches on the higher dose though not orthostatic. They have disappeared when I reduced dose. Maybe my csf pressure was too low on the upper dose. Strange condition.
Retirement from work has definitely helped. My standard day now starts at 8am instead of of 6. Four times a week I do a 2 hr. tai-chi class in the morning. Lunch,errands or some sort of puzzle until about 3pm. Around that time I start to feel not so good- usual symptoms of feeling drained,hearing whining sounds in my head, headachy but no bad headaches etc. Now that I'm retired I know that 3-4pm is my worst time so I lay down in my bed and usually sleep for an hour or a a little more. What is interesting is that when my csf pressure was low and I was basically bed-bound for months,my very very worst headaches would come at 3-4 pm. I know that's classical for csf leak but now that my pressure is elevated that the same time of day should be my worst is somewhat interesting to me.
So that's kind of where I'm at. I am still pretty well functioning but always looking to feel better. Believe me, I am a thousand times better than what I was and I am grateful to be where I am but I know I'm still not "right". I don't intend on giving up trying to get better.
Retirement from work has definitely helped. My standard day now starts at 8am instead of of 6. Four times a week I do a 2 hr. tai-chi class in the morning. Lunch,errands or some sort of puzzle until about 3pm. Around that time I start to feel not so good- usual symptoms of feeling drained,hearing whining sounds in my head, headachy but no bad headaches etc. Now that I'm retired I know that 3-4pm is my worst time so I lay down in my bed and usually sleep for an hour or a a little more. What is interesting is that when my csf pressure was low and I was basically bed-bound for months,my very very worst headaches would come at 3-4 pm. I know that's classical for csf leak but now that my pressure is elevated that the same time of day should be my worst is somewhat interesting to me.
So that's kind of where I'm at. I am still pretty well functioning but always looking to feel better. Believe me, I am a thousand times better than what I was and I am grateful to be where I am but I know I'm still not "right". I don't intend on giving up trying to get better.
Brief Answer:
Bad taste and headache are known side effects of Diamox.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Dear friend,Its really pleasant for me to have you in follow-up and I feel happy that you are through the better phase of life,if not the best.
Its not strange that higher dose of 'Diamox' caused you to have bad taste as it is a common side effect.Even its not strange that it caused you to have headache,as headache is also a known side effect of Diamox,though uncommon.
You truly said-What a paradox?A drug meant to improve headache worsens headache.But that's the way is it.At higher doses,Diamox can cause cerebral vasodilation,thus causing headache.
So,your medical knowledge came in handy here and you adjusted the dose yourself.That's why it is said that a doctor can best treat himself as a patient.
Regarding circadian pattern associated with your intracranial pressure between 3-4 p.m,I would like to say that-Of course,intracranial pressure can have circadian variation but mostly the pressure increases early morning when the person wakes up.Sleep can also be associated with increased pressure.And postural changes,you well know.May be your circadian rhythm is set to vary intracranial pressure at this particular time period.However,clearly no specific explanation for it.
Lastly,I pray to God for the best of health to you.Keep monitoring your symptoms with adjustments in the Diamox dose.A repeat lumbar puncture after another 5-6 months should be done.Don't go for any intervention if you are symptom free or with minimum symptoms.
I want to see you sometime in the best of your shape.Of course,neither me nor you can be at 100%,ever.Is hypertension curable?Is Diabetes curable?It's the excellent control that matters the most.So,get going on an excellent path of life with excellent control on symptoms.
Please keep in follow-up.I wish to be in touch with you always.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Bad taste and headache are known side effects of Diamox.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
Dear friend,Its really pleasant for me to have you in follow-up and I feel happy that you are through the better phase of life,if not the best.
Its not strange that higher dose of 'Diamox' caused you to have bad taste as it is a common side effect.Even its not strange that it caused you to have headache,as headache is also a known side effect of Diamox,though uncommon.
You truly said-What a paradox?A drug meant to improve headache worsens headache.But that's the way is it.At higher doses,Diamox can cause cerebral vasodilation,thus causing headache.
So,your medical knowledge came in handy here and you adjusted the dose yourself.That's why it is said that a doctor can best treat himself as a patient.
Regarding circadian pattern associated with your intracranial pressure between 3-4 p.m,I would like to say that-Of course,intracranial pressure can have circadian variation but mostly the pressure increases early morning when the person wakes up.Sleep can also be associated with increased pressure.And postural changes,you well know.May be your circadian rhythm is set to vary intracranial pressure at this particular time period.However,clearly no specific explanation for it.
Lastly,I pray to God for the best of health to you.Keep monitoring your symptoms with adjustments in the Diamox dose.A repeat lumbar puncture after another 5-6 months should be done.Don't go for any intervention if you are symptom free or with minimum symptoms.
I want to see you sometime in the best of your shape.Of course,neither me nor you can be at 100%,ever.Is hypertension curable?Is Diabetes curable?It's the excellent control that matters the most.So,get going on an excellent path of life with excellent control on symptoms.
Please keep in follow-up.I wish to be in touch with you always.
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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