Ray Peat on Acetazolamide

December 4, 2025

Treatments for altitude sickness and CO₂ retention

“Like acetazolamide, the other recognized treatments for altitude sickness, the calcium channel blockers, also inhibit carbonic anhydrase and thus facilitate the body’s CO₂ retention.”

– May 2020 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Fundamental drug combinations instead of disease-specific medications

“Combinations of substances such as CO₂, progesterone, angiotensin receptor blockers, acetazolamide, and aspirin, which influence fundamental properties of the organism, are suitable for a wide range of problems currently treated with drugs considered specific to certain diseases. The goal should be to support the patient's recovery, not to eliminate a disease.”

– March 2020 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

List of various medications and dietary supplements

"Acetazolamide, agmatine, amantadine, aminoguanidine, antibiotics (minocycline, tetracycline, etc.), antihistamines, aspirin, bromocriptine, DCA, emodin, glucagon, glucose, memantine, methylene blue, niacinamide, T3 (triiodothyronine), vitamin D, vitamin E."

– March 2016 – Ray Peat's Newsletter

Therapeutic potential of carbon dioxide application

"The direct application of carbon dioxide should be helpful in all situations where acetazolamide is known to be beneficial, without the risk of an allergy to this drug – traumatic cerebral edema, altitude sickness, osteoporosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, ADHD, inflammation, intestinal polyps, and arthritis. Diabetes, cardiomyopathy (Torella et al., 2014), obesity (Arechederra et al., 2013), cancer, dementia, and psychoses may also benefit."

– July 2017 – Ray Peats Newsletter

Respiratory effect of acetazolamide

"Acetazolamide stimulates respiration by changing CO₂ and pH."

– Reply via email from Ray Peat

Non-toxic therapies for the treatment of lactic acidosis

"Therapeutically, even potent toxins that block glycolytic enzymes can improve function in a variety of organic disorders associated with (or caused by) excessive lactic acid production. Unfortunately, the toxin that has become the standard treatment for lactic acidosis—dichloroacetic acid—is a carcinogen and ultimately causes liver damage and acidosis. But several non-toxic therapies can achieve the same effects: palmitate (formed from sugar under the influence of thyroid hormone and found in coconut oil), vitamin B1, biotin, lipoic acid, carbon dioxide, thyroid hormone, naloxone, and acetazolamide, for example."

– July 2000 (1)

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