Acetazolamide 500 mg Capsule, Extended Release
Other active recalls for Acetazolamide (different manufacturers) — 1 · tap to view
🆔 Identity & classification
Where does this data come from?
🏷️ RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor class.
Where does this data come from?
🏭 Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
🩺 Clinical
Acetazolamide is used to treat glaucoma, a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision. Acetazolamide decreases the pressure in the eye. Acetazolamide is also used to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms (upset stomach, headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue) of altitude (mountain) sickness. Acetazolamide is used with other medicines to reduce edema (excess fluid retention) and to help control seizures in certain types of epilepsy. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for...
Read the full MedlinePlus article ↗- Acetazolamide is used for several different things, depending on the form your doctor prescribed. It can help lower eye pressure in glaucoma, reduce certain types of seizures, trea...
- What conditions is acetazolamide actually used for?
- The most common things people notice are tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or face, more frequent urination, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and loss of appetite. These are ge...
- What side effects should I expect, and which ones mean I should call my doctor?
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Some supplements/herbs that may interact with Acetazolamide — tap one for details:
Acetazolamide may be associated with lower levels of 8 nutrients — worth a chat with your pharmacist, not a cause for alarm.
Where does this data come from?
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
💊 What it looks like
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🧪 Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
💡 Tap an ingredient (hover on desktop) to see what it is and why it’s used.
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UNII 8GQS4E66YY
A synthetic polymer made from acrylic compounds. It forms a coating on tablets or capsules to control how and where the medicine releases in the digestive system.
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UNII 161H3B14U2
A synthetic plastic polymer used as an enteric coating on tablets and capsules. It dissolves in the intestines rather than the stomach, controlling where and when the medicine is released in the digestive tract.
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UNII OP1R32D61U
Microcrystalline cellulose is a purified form of cellulose, a natural fiber from plant sources. It acts as a binder and filler in tablets and capsules, helping hold ingredients together and give the medicine its shape and size.
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UNII H77VEI93A8
A synthetic yellow dye used to color medications. It helps identify the drug and make it visually distinctive, with no effect on how the medicine works.
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UNII XM0M87F357
A dark iron oxide compound that gives medicines their black or dark color. It's used as a colorant in tablets and capsules to help identify the product and make it visually distinctive.
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UNII 2G86QN327L
Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, commonly used in medicines as a gelling agent and capsule material. It helps create soft or hard capsule shells that hold and release medication, and can also thicken liquid formulations.
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UNII 368GB5141J
A detergent and foaming agent derived from coconut or palm oil. In medications, it helps break down and mix oil and water-based ingredients, aids in tablet disintegration, and improves how the drug dissolves and spreads in the mouth or digestive system.
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UNII 7SEV7J4R1U
A powder made from a naturally occurring mineral. In medicines, talc works as a glidant and anti-caking agent, helping tablets and capsules flow smoothly during manufacturing and preventing clumping.
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UNII 15FIX9V2JP
Titanium dioxide is a bright white mineral powder commonly used as a colorant and opacifying agent. It makes pills and tablets white or lighter in color and helps make coatings non-transparent.
9 inactive ingredients listed in the exact product block matched to this NDC.
Where does this data come from?
ingredient classCode="IACT" elements from the exact product block matched by this NDC. Label-section narrative from DailyMed / the openFDA label index is shown separately when available.Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
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💲 Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per each | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $0.4628 | $23.14 / 50 capsule |
Where does this data come from?
🔁 Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acetazolamide 500 mg 16729-0331-01 | Accord | 100 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 23155-0787-01 | Heritage | 100 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide Extended-Release 500 mg 42571-0243-01 | Micro | 100 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide Extended-Release 500 mg 50268-0042-12 | AvPAK | 20 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| acetazolamide 500 mg 60687-0578-21 | American | 30 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 62135-0612-60 | Chartwell | 60 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 69367-0209-01 | Westminster | 100 capsules | $0.284 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 50742-0233-01 | Ingenus | 100 capsules | $0.349 | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 62332-0349-31 | Alembic | 100 capsules | $0.368 | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 46708-0349-31 | Alembic | 100 capsules | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mg 50090-5945-00 | A-S | 30 capsules | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| acetazolamide 500 mg 65841-0762-01 | Zydus | 100 capsules | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| Acetazolamide 500 mgthis 70518-4646-00 | REMEDYREPACK | 1 capsule | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| acetazolamide 500 mg 70710-1591-00 | Zydus | 1000 capsules | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
| acetazolamide 500 mg 71335-9729-01 | Bryant | 180 capsules | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
⏳ Availability & generic status
This product is an FDA-approved generic. Other versions of the same drug are listed under Therapeutic equivalents, least expensive first.
Where does this data come from?
📊 Medicare Part D spend CMS · PART D · 2026 (Q1)
📦 Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70518-4646-00 You're viewing this | 50 POUCH in 1 BOX (70518-4646-0) / 1 CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE in 1 POUCH (70518-4646-1) | 2026-04-28 | Active |
🧭 About this NDC listing & data coverage
What data is (and isn’t) available for this NDC — tap to expand
| NDC identity (package / product / labeler codes) | ✓ Available |
| Labeler | ✓ Available |
| Product & package description | ✓ Available |
| Marketing category & status | ✓ Available |
| Active ingredient / dosage form / route | ✓ Available |
| FDA label (SPL via DailyMed) | ✓ Available |
| Package photos | ✓ Available |
| Inactive ingredients (structured) | ✓ Available |
| NADAC pharmacy acquisition price (CMS) | — Not published for this NDC CMS publishes NADAC only for NDCs reported in its retail-pharmacy survey. |
| Orange Book / therapeutic-equivalence data | ✓ Available |
| HCPCS J-code billing crosswalk | — Not published for this NDC Most self-administered / retail products have no J-code — that is normal. |
| Medicaid utilization (CMS SDUD) | — Not published for this NDC CMS reports utilization only for NDCs with Medicaid claims above its privacy threshold. |
Questions about this listing
Why is there no price listed?
Is the NDC printed on the package the same as the 11-digit billing NDC?
What do the three segments of this NDC mean?
Is this package still being marketed?
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Do I need a prescription for this product?
Where does this data come from?
📄 Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
INDICATIONS AND USAGE: For adjunctive treatment of: chronic simple (open-angle) glaucoma, secondary glaucoma, and preoperatively in acute angle-closure glaucoma where delay of surgery is desired in order to lower intraocular pressure. Acetazolamide extended-release capsules are also indicated for the prevention or amelioration of symptoms associated with acute mountain sickness despite gradual ascent.
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Glaucoma The recommended dosage is 1 capsule (500 mg) two times a day. Usually 1 capsule is administered in the morning and 1 capsule in the evening. It may be necessary to adjust the dose, but it has usually been found that dosage in excess of 2 capsules (1 g) does not produce an increased effect.
The dosage should be adjusted with careful individual attention both to symptomatology and intraocular tension. In all cases, continuous supervision by a physician is advisable. In those unusual instances where adequate control is not obtained by the twice-a-day administration of acetazolamide extended-release capsules, the desired control may be established by means of acetazolamide (tablets or parenteral).
Use tablets or parenteral in accordance with the more frequent dosage schedules recommended for these dosage forms, such as 250 mg every four hours, or an initial dose of 500 mg followed by 250 mg or 125 mg every four hours, depending on the case in question. Acute Mountain Sickness Dosage is 500 mg to 1,000 mg daily, in divided doses using tablets or extended-release capsules as appropriate. In circumstances of rapid ascent, such as in rescue or military operations, the higher dose level of 1,000 mg is recommended.
It is preferable to initiate dosing 24 to 48 hours before ascent and to continue for 48 hours while at high altitude, or longer as necessary to control symptoms.
⛔ Contraindications ▾
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to acetazolamide or any excipients in the formulation. Since acetazolamide is a sulfonamide derivative, cross sensitivity between acetazolamide, sulfonamides and other sulfonamide derivatives is possible. Acetazolamide therapy is contraindicated in situations in which sodium and/or potassium blood serum levels are depressed, in cases of marked kidney and liver disease or dysfunction, in suprarenal gland failure, and in hyperchloremic acidosis.
It is contraindicated in patients with cirrhosis because of the risk of development of hepatic encephalopathy. Long-term administration of acetazolamide is contraindicated in patients with chronic non-congestive angle-closure glaucoma since it may permit organic closure of the angle to occur while the worsening glaucoma is masked by lowered intraocular pressure.
⚠️ Warnings ▾
WARNINGS: Fatalities have occurred, although rarely, due to severe reactions to sulfonamides including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, fulminant hepatic necrosis, anaphylaxis, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, and other blood dyscrasias. Sensitizations may recur when a sulfonamide is readministered irrespective of the route of administration. If signs of hypersensitivity or other serious reactions occur, discontinue use of this drug.
Caution is advised for patients receiving concomitant high-dose aspirin and acetazolamide, as anorexia, tachypnea, lethargy, metabolic acidosis, coma, and death have been reported.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
ADVERSE REACTIONS: Body as a whole: Headache, malaise, fatigue, fever, pain at injection site, flushing, growth retardation in children, flaccid paralysis, anaphylaxis. Digestive: Gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Hematological/Lymphatic: Blood dyscrasias such as aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenic purpura, melena.
Hepato-biliary disorders: Abnormal liver function, cholestatic jaundice, hepatic insufficiency, fulminant hepatic necrosis. Metabolic/Nutritional: Metabolic acidosis, electrolyte imbalance, including hypokalemia, hyponatremia, osteomalacia with long-term phenytoin therapy, loss of appetite, taste alteration, hyper/hypoglycemia. Nervous: Drowsiness, paresthesia (including numbness and tingling of extremities and face), depression, excitement, ataxia, confusion, convulsions, dizziness. Skin: Allergic skin reactions including urticaria, photosensitivity, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Otologic: Hearing disturbances, tinnitus. Eye Disorders: Choroidal effusion, choroidal detachment, transient myopia. Transient myopia is the result of forward movement of the ciliary body leading to a narrowing of the angle.
Urogenital: Crystalluria, increased risk of nephrolithiasis with long-term therapy, hematuria, glycosuria, renal failure, polyuria. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Avet Pharmaceuticals Inc. at 1-866-901-DRUG (3784) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
🆘 Overdosage ▾
OVERDOSAGE: No specific antidote is known. Treatment should be symptomatic and supportive. Electrolyte imbalance, development of an acidotic state, and central nervous system effects might be expected to occur.
Serum electrolyte levels (particularly potassium) and blood pH levels should be monitored. Supportive measures are required to restore electrolyte and pH balance. The acidotic state can usually be corrected by the administration of bicarbonate.
Despite its high intraerythrocytic distribution and plasma protein binding properties, acetazolamide may be dialyzable. This may be particularly important in the management of acetazolamide overdosage when complicated by the presence of renal failure.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY: Acetazolamide is a potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, effective in the control of fluid secretion (e.g., some types of glaucoma), in the treatment of certain convulsive disorders (e.g., epilepsy), and in the promotion of diuresis in instances of abnormal fluid retention (e.g., cardiac edema). Acetazolamide is not a mercurial diuretic. Rather, it is a non-bacteriostatic sulfonamide possessing a chemical structure and pharmacological activity distinctly different from the bacteriostatic sulfonamides.
Acetazolamide is an enzyme inhibitor that acts specifically on carbonic anhydrase, the enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction involving the hydration of carbon dioxide and the dehydration of carbonic acid. In the eye, this inhibitory action of acetazolamide decreases the secretion of aqueous humor and results in a drop in intraocular pressure, a reaction considered desirable in cases of glaucoma and even in certain non-glaucomatous conditions. Evidence seems to indicate that acetazolamide has utility as an adjuvant in treatment of certain dysfunctions of the central nervous system (e.g., epilepsy).
Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase in this area appears to retard abnormal, paroxysmal, excessive discharge from central nervous system neurons. The diuretic effect of acetazolamide is due to its action in the kidney on the reversible reaction involving hydration of carbon dioxide and dehydration of carbonic acid. The result is renal loss of HCO 3 ion, which carries out sodium, water, and potassium.
Alkalinization of the urine and promotion of diuresis are thus affected. Alteration in ammonia metabolism occurs due to increased reabsorption of ammonia by the renal tubules as a result of urinary alkalinization. Acetazolamide extended-release capsules provide prolonged action to inhibit aqueous humor secretion for 18 to 24 hours after each dose, whereas tablets act for only eight to 12 hours.
The prolonged continuous effect of acetazolamide extended-release capsules permits a reduction in dosage frequency. Plasma concentrations of acetazolamide peak from three to six hours after administration of acetazolamide extended-release capsules, compared to one to four hours with tablets. Food does not affect bioavailability of acetazolamide extended-release capsules.
Placebo-controlled clinical trials have shown that prophylactic administration of acetazolamide at a dose of 250 mg every eight to 12 hours (or a 500 mg controlled release capsule once daily) before and during rapid ascent to altitude results in fewer and/or less severe symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) such as headache, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, drowsiness, and fatigue. Pulmonary function (e.g., minute ventilation, expired vital capacity, and peak flow) is greater in the acetazolamide treated group, both in subjects with AMS and asymptomatic subjects.
The acetazolamide treated climbers also had less difficulty in sleeping.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
Acetazolamide Extended-Release Capsules, USP, 500 mg are white to off-white pellets filled in empty hard gelatin capsules with orange opaque cap imprinted with “EP” in black ink and white opaque body imprinted with “107” in black ink and are supplied as follows: NDC: 70518-4646-00 NDC: 70518-4646-01 OUTER PACKAGING: 50 in 1 BOX PACKAGING: 1 in 1 POUCH Storage: Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Dispense in well-closed containers. Repackaged and Distributed By: Remedy Repack, Inc.
625 Kolter Dr. Suite #4 Indiana, PA 1-724-465-8762
📋 Description ▾
DESCRIPTION: Acetazolamide extended-release capsules, USP are an inhibitor of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase. Acetazolamide is a white to faintly yellowish white crystalline, odorless powder, weakly acidic, very slightly soluble in water, and slightly soluble in alcohol. The chemical name for acetazolamide is N-(5-Sulfamoyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) acetamide and has the following chemical structure: Each acetazolamide extended-release capsule, USP intended for oral administration contains 500 mg of acetazolamide.
In addition, each capsule contains the following inactive ingredients: ammonio methacrylate copolymer dispersion type A and B, FD&C yellow #6, gelatin, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc and titanium dioxide. The capsule is printed with black pharmaceutical ink which contains black iron oxide as a coloring agent. Meets USP Dissolution Test 3. chemical-structure