Acetazolamide and Salicylate Interaction in the Elderly: A Case Report

laucoma and arthritis are common chronic disorders among the elderly,' often necessitating G pharmacologic intervention for appropriate management. Acetazolamide and salicylates are commonly prescribed in glaucomatous and arthritic elders, predisposing them to a deleterious drug-drug interaction with elevated serum levels of acetazolamide and a clinical syndrome consisting of fatigue, lethargy, somnolence, incontinence, and confusion.' Lamentably, clinicians are often unaware of this drug-induced syndrome and persist in the concurrent use of acetazolamide and salicylates. A brief case report illustrating an adverse interaction between acetazolamide and salicylate is presented, followed by a discussion of the pharmacokinetics of combined dosing.