How can I treat altitude sickness?

General: Patients who have symptoms of altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness (AMS) should stop climbing to higher elevations. If possible, they should climb down the mountain. In most cases, symptoms of AMS will go away after two to three days of rest at a lower altitude. If descent is not possible, the patient should stop climbing and rest for several days at the current altitude.

Patients who experience symptoms of more serious forms of mountain sickness, including high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), or high altitude retinal hemorrhage (HARH), should begin to descend to lower elevations immediately. In most cases, symptoms begin to improve once the patient reaches a healthcare facility. It may take patients several weeks to recover from severe types of mountain sickness.

Acetazolamide (Diamox®): Patients with AMS may benefit from treatment with a diuretic drug called acetazolamide (Diamox®). This drug increases the production of urine. As a result, the pH of the blood is decreased, stimulating the patient to breathe more. When patients breathe more, they have higher levels of oxygen in the blood. Therefore, acetazolamide is taken to help prevent or reduce symptoms of AMS. This drug has also been shown to improve symptoms of insomnia in AMS patients.

Antihypertensive drugs: A drug called nifedipine (Procardia®), which is used to lower blood pressure, may help treat symptoms of HAPE. This drug decreases the pressure in the pulmonary artery, which is typically elevated in patients with HAPE. The pulmonary arteries become dilated, which improves oxygen transfer.

Breathing support: If patients with HAPE are not responding to treatment, a breathing tube may be placed in the airway to help the patient breathe. Patients who develop respiratory failure often require a ventilator, which is a machine that helps the patient breathe.

Oxygen: Oxygen may help treat patients who are experiencing symptoms of mountain sickness. Patients typically inhale two to four liters of oxygen per minute to increase the amount of oxygen in the blood.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.