Acetazolamide is associated with:: (A) Metabolic acidosis, (B) Metabolic alkalosis, (C) Both of the above, (D) None of the above
Answer is A. The carbonic anhydrase-inhibiting drugs are only moderately effective as diuretic agents, but because they inhibit acid secretion by decreasing the supply of carbonic acid, they have far-reaching effects. Not only is Na+ excretion increased because H+ secretion is decreased, but also HCO3- reabsorption is depressed; and because H+ and K+ compete with each other and with Na+, the decrease in H+ secretion facilitates the secretion and excretion of K+. Ref: Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology 23rd edition, Chapter 38.