Question - jughead00

[ArchivalUser]

Why does acetazolamide toxicity cause ammonia toxicity???

Thanks!

[ArchivalUser]

It's a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Acetazolamide forces the kidneys to excrete bicarbonate, the conjugate base of carbonic acid. By increasing the amount of bicarbonate excreted in the urine, the blood becomes more acidic. Acidifying the blood stimulates ventilation, which increases the amount of oxygen in the blood.



Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Medically it may be used to treat conditions of moderate to severe metabolic or respiratory alkalosis. It does this by interfering with bicarbonate (HCO3-) resorption in the kidneys, thereby re-acidifying the blood (and thus alkalinizing the urine).