Triggered by Weather? This Medication May Help
It’s fall in Texas, which means one to two months of intense oscillations between 90+ degree, summer-like temperatures and 30-50 degree winter temperatures – all within the same week, if not (as often happens) the same day. For those of us whose migraine disease is dramatically impacted by frequent, severe weather changes, this generally means a season of increased disability and weeks of illness. One medication, however, may be able to help.
Diamox for migraine symptoms
Acetazolamide, also called Diamox, is a medication used to treat acute altitude sickness, such as that brought on by mountain climbing, and open-angle glaucoma. Like Topamax, a drug commonly used as a migraine preventative, acetazolamide inhibits a type of enzyme called carbonic anhydrase, and both have been used to treat seizure disorders (although Diamox is used much less frequently than Topamax).
Research results for Diamox
The use of the drug in connection with migraine appears to have started with familial hemiplegic migraine. Doctors prescribed the drug off-label as a way to treat migraine patients with specific symptoms, primarily vertigo and loss of muscle coordination. Off-label usage then spread to other migraineurs over the years, particularly those suffering from vestibular migraine or severe menstrual migraine. Recently, some doctors started prescribing the medication off-label for patients suffering from frequent weather-related migraine. There is some evidence that the drug may interrupt cortical spreading depression, and at least one study has shown good results, especially in migraine patients with aura.

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