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Methazolamide Coupon - Methazolamide 50mg tablet

methazolamide

Generic Neptazane
Used for Glaucoma, Eye Pressure
Used for Glaucoma, Eye Pressure

Methazolamide is used to help lower eye pressure and treats eye conditions like glaucoma in adults. It belongs to the drug class called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Methazolamide is a tablet that's taken by mouth, and the dosage is taken 2 or 3 times a day. This medication has many potential side effects, including tingling in the arms or legs, ringing in the ears, and stomach upset. There are possible interactions with aspirin and steroids.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Hope Chang, PharmD, AAHIVP
reviewer
Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on June 30, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageInteractionsCostContraindicationsAlternativesImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Methazolamide?

What is Methazolamide used for?

  • High pressure in the eye, such as with glaucoma

How Methazolamide works

Methazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. It lessens the amount of fluid in the eye to lower eye pressure. This helps treat eye conditions related to high pressure in the eye, such as glaucoma.

Are you looking for information on acetazolamide or methimazole (Tapazole) instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsNeptazane (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassCarbonic anhydrase inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Methazolamide?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Tingling or "pins and needles" feeling in the arms or legs
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Weakness
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Taste changes
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • More urination
  • Vision changes

Other Side Effects

  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Itchiness
  • Dark stools
  • Blood or sugar in the urine
  • Sun sensitivity
  • Muscle weakness
  • Kidney stones

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Severe skin rash: blisters, peeling skin, fever
  • Severe allergic reaction: trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat
  • Liver problems: dark colored urine, light colored stools, belly pain, yellow skin or whites of the eyes
  • Low blood cell counts: fever, chills, cough, low energy, paleness, shortness of breath, easy bruising or bleeding
  • Seizure

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Shortness of breath or trouble in breathing

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

Blood in urine

difficult urination

mental depression

pain in lower back

pain or burning while urinating

sudden decrease in amount of urine

Rare

Bloody or black, tarry stools

clumsiness or unsteadiness

convulsions (seizures)

darkening of urine

fever

hives, itching of skin, skin rash, or sores

pale stools

ringing or buzzing in the ears

sore throat

trembling

unusual bruising or bleeding

yellow eyes or skin

Symptoms of too much potassium loss

Dryness of mouth

increased thirst

irregular heartbeats

mood or mental changes

muscle cramps or pain

nausea or vomiting

unusual tiredness or weakness

weak pulse

Also, check with your doctor if you have any changes in your vision (especially problems with seeing faraway objects) when you first begin taking this medicine.

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Diarrhea

general feeling of discomfort or illness

increase in frequency of urination or amount of urine (rare with methazolamide)

loss of appetite

metallic taste in mouth

nausea or vomiting

numbness, tingling, or burning in hands, fingers, feet, toes, mouth, lips, tongue, or anus

weight loss

Less common or rare

Constipation

dizziness or lightheadedness

drowsiness

feeling of choking or lump in the throat

headache

increased sensitivity of eyes to sunlight

loss of taste and smell

nervousness or irritability

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Methazolamide

thumbs-up

Pros

Works well to lower pressure in the eyes

A tablet that's taken by mouth, which might be an option for people who don't like to use eye drops

Available as a lower-cost generic

thumbs-down

Cons

Need to take multiple times a day

Many potential side effects, so not typically a first-choice option

Unknown if safe or works well in children

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Methazolamide

pharmacist

  • Spread your methazolamide doses evenly throughout the day and try to take the medication at the same times every day. This will help the medication levels stay consistent (steady) in your body.

    • It's possible that you might have to go to the bathroom to urinate more often, especially when you first start taking methazolamide. Let your care team know if you need to use the bathroom often at night and it's disturbing your sleep. Your prescriber might recommend a change in your dosing schedule to help.

      • Avoid driving until you know how methazolamide affects you. Methazolamide side effects can include drowsiness and vision changes, which can make driving very dangerous.

        • Let your prescriber know if you're taking aspirin or a steroid medication. These medications can interact with methazolamide and lead to side effects. Your prescriber might want to follow up with you more often to make sure you're safe.

          • Don't take methazolamide long term if you have closed-angle glaucoma. Methazolamide is usually only used short term before surgery for this type of glaucoma.

            • Tell your prescriber if you're pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant while you're taking methazolamide. There isn't enough information to know whether this medication is safe during pregnancy, but it caused harm to babies in animal studies at high doses. Your prescriber will discuss whether the benefits of taking the medication outweigh the risks.

              • Discuss safe options to treat your eye condition with your healthcare professional if you're nursing. It isn't known whether methazolamide is safe to take while you're breastfeeding.

                faqs

                Frequently asked questions about Methazolamide

                What's the difference between methazolamide and acetazolamide?
                Both methazolamide and acetazolamide belong to a group of medications called carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, but they're used to treat some different medical conditions. Methazolamide is FDA approved to lower pressure in the eye(s). On the other hand, acetazolamide is most commonly used to treat altitude sickness, though it's also approved for glaucoma, swelling in the body, and seizures. Follow up with your eye specialist to find out more about comparing between methazolamide and acetazolamide.
                What are the long-term effects of methazolamide?
                Long-term side effects of methazolamide are rare. But it carries the risk of liver damage. It's thought that the liver damage is related to an allergic reaction to sulfa medications. Tell your prescriber before you start methazolamide if you have a history of liver problems or any allergies to medications. Your prescriber will discuss with you about the risks and benefits of taking methazolamide.
                Does methazolamide make you sleepy?
                Some people reported feeling drowsy or sleepy at times during treatment with methazolamide. Don't drive or perform activities that require you to be alert until you know how the medication affects you. Contact your healthcare team if methazolamide is making you very sleepy.
                Does methazolamide affect blood sugar?
                Although research is limited, a small study showed that methazolamide might lower blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, ask your prescriber if you should check your blood sugar more often while you're taking methazolamide to see how the medication affects your blood sugar levels, especially if you take diabetes medications.
                Can you take Tylenol with methazolamide?
                It's generally safe to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) while you're taking methazolamide because there aren't any known interactions between the two medications. Keep in mind that acetaminophen (Tylenol) might not be the best choice for everyone, such as people with liver problems. It's always best to check with your prescriber or pharmacist before you start any new medications.
                Should you take methazolamide with food?
                You can take methazolamide with or without food. But taking it with food might help prevent or lessen stomach upset, which is a possible side effect of methazolamide.
                Can methazolamide cause kidney stones?
                The manufacturer lists kidney stones as a possible but rare side effect of methazolamide. Kidney stones might happen because methazolamide can make your urine less acidic, which can promote crystal and stone formation. Tell your prescriber right away if you notice signs of kidney stones, such as pain in your back or side, blood in your urine, chills, or vomiting.
                Can methazolamide cause anemia?
                In some rare cases, some people taking methazolamide experienced anemia (low red blood cell count). Watch out for symptoms for anemia, such as feeling tired, pale skin, and shortness of breath. Contact your healthcare team if you experience any of these symptoms so they can test you for anemia.
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                warings-icon

                What are the risks and warnings for Methazolamide?

                Methazolamide can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

                risk-warning

                Severe allergic reactions

                • Risk factors: History of allergy to sulfa medications

                  In some rare cases, people who took methazolamide have had serious allergic reactions that cause severe skin rashes, liver damage, and blood problems. Let your prescriber and pharmacist know about your medication allergies. Also tell your healthcare team if you've ever had a reaction to a sulfa medication. Get medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction like hives, blistered or peeling skin, trouble breathing, or swelling of your tongue or throat.

                  risk-warning

                  Interaction with aspirin

                  • Risk factors: Taking high-dose aspirin

                    Let your prescriber know if you're taking aspirin every day and what aspirin dose you're taking. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as methazolamide, can interact with aspirin, especially if you're taking a high dose of aspirin. The combination can sometimes cause appetite loss, fast breathing, tiredness, and coma.

                    risk-warning

                    Use with caution in people with breathing or lung problems

                    Tell your prescriber and pharmacist if you have a breathing or lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema. Methazolamide can sometimes cause the acid levels in the body to rise, which can be problematic in people who can't breathe well.

                    dosage

                    Methazolamide dosage forms

                    The average cost for 60 tablets of 50mg of Methazolamide is $76.70 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 83.79% off the average retail price of $473.17.
                    tablet
                    Tablet
                    DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                    25mg60 tablets$56.66$0.94
                    50mg60 tablets$76.70$1.28

                    Typical dosing for Methazolamide

                    The typical dose is 50 mg to 100 mg by mouth 2 or 3 times a day.

                    interactions

                    Interactions between Methazolamide and other drugs

                    Methazolamide may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Methazolamide. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

                    Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these medicines, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

                    Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with a medication in this class or change some of the other medicines you take.

                    Using medicines in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

                    drug-cost

                    How much does Methazolamide cost?

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                    Methazolamide (generic)
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                    contraindications-icon

                    Methazolamide contraindications

                    Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Methazolamide will not be safe for you to take.
                    alternatives

                    What are alternatives to Methazolamide?

                    There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Methazolamide. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                    Methazolamide
                    Used for:

                    • High pressure in the eye, such as with glaucoma

                    $56.66 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Acetazolamide
                    Used for:

                    • Altitude sickness (mountain sickness)

                    • Glaucoma

                    • Edema (swelling in the body due to fluid buildup) - IR tablet only

                    • Epilepsy (petit mal, unlocalized seizures) - IR tablet only

                    $18.00 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Cosopt (dorzolamide / timolol)
                    Used for:
                    $16.99 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    images

                    Methazolamide images

                    White Round Eff And 2 0 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "2 0" And "Eff".White Round Eff And 2 0 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    White Round Gg 181 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Gg 181".White Round Gg 181 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    White Round Ani 241 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Ani 241".White Round Ani 241 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    White Round Zen And 5 0 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "5 0" And "Zen".White Round Zen And 5 0 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    White Round Ani 241 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Ani 241".White Round Ani 241 - Methazolamide 50mg Tablet

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                    References

                    Best studies we found

                    ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Methazolamide tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

                    Aslam, S., et al. (2023). Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. StatPearls.

                    Dahlen, K., et al. (1978). A repeated dose-response study of methazolamide in glaucoma. Archives of Ophthalmology.

                    View All References (7)

                    Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®). (2021). Methazolamide. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

                    Lewis, J. L., 3rd. (2023). Acidosis. Merck Manual Consumer Version.

                    MedlinePlus. (2023). Aplastic anemia.

                    MedlinePlus. (2023). Metabolic acidosis.

                    National Kidney Foundation. (n.d.). Kidney stones.

                    Simpson, R. W., et al. (2014). Efficacy and safety of oral methazolamide in patients with type 2 diabetes: A 24-week, placebo-controlled, double-blinde study. Diabetes Care.

                    Wagner, I. V., et al. (2022). Updates on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes.

                    GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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