Physician’s Sheet: Acetazolamide Drug Interactions

Submitted by deb on Mon, 06/27/2011 – 20:54 Acetazolamide (aka Diamox) is frequently prescribed as therapy for the periodic paralyses. While most patients take this drug without incident it can interact with other drugs. Physicians should be aware of potential problems which might arise. Acetazolamide can decrease excretion of dextroamphetamine, anticholinergics, mecamylamine, ephedrine, mexiletine, or quinidine because…

Starting Acetazolamide (Diamox)

Submitted by deb on Fri, 02/01/2013 – 21:45 Because this is a frequently asked question from patients we post here a reply: Question: My doctor wants to prescribe a medication called acetazolamide. Is that okay for someone with Hypokalemic periodic paralysis. When I look on the web it says this medication causes you to excrete potassium. How…

The Use of Bactrim in the Periodic Paralyses

Submitted by deb on Sat, 07/25/2015 – 18:54 The antibiotic Bactrim is well-known to produce muscle weakness, even paralysis in patients with Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. It is contraindicated in patients with Anderson-Tawil Syndrome because of its propensity to produce cardiac arrhythmia, but many clinicians do not realize that it also produces hyperkalemia in a majority of patients…

Sleep Complaints in Periodic Paralysis

Submitted by deb on Mon, 06/27/2011 – 02:57 Giorgio Buzzi, MD, Neurologist Buzzi G, Mostacci B, Sancisi E, Cirignotta F. Sleep complaints in Periodic Paralyses: a web survey. Functional Neurology 2001, 17 (3). From the Sleep Medicine Unit – Dept. of Neurology S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital – University of Bologna, Italy. SUMMARY Section 1. Background: K+ and REM sleep homeostasis….

Physician’s Reading Room

Submitted by deb on Wed, 09/07/2011 – 03:04 For your convenience, arranged by topic, a “shelf” of journal articles on the periodic paralyses. If you have a favorite link to suggest please pass it along. Textbook and Reviews Meola G, Hanna M G and Fontaine B. Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Channelopathies. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2009;80:360–365. Dr Michael…

New Findings Suggest Genetics Behind Drug Response

Submitted by deb on Thu, 07/26/2012 – 17:00 PLoS One. 2012; 7(7): e40235.Published online 2012 July 10. Splicing of the rSlo Gene Affects the Molecular Composition and Drug Response of Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels in Skeletal Muscle Maria Maddalena Dinardo,#1 Giulia Camerino,#1 Antonietta Mele,1 Ramon Latorre,2 Diana Conte Camerino,1 and Domenico Tricarico1,* The molecular composition and drug responses…

Malignant Hyperthermia

Submitted by deb on Mon, 06/27/2011 – 19:16 Periodic Paralysis Patients at Increased Risk of MH Patients with Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis and Paramyotonia Congenita are at increased risk for Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) during surgery.  Patients with all types of periodic paralysis often become paralyzed during or after surgery, from stress, chilling in the OR and the use…