Altitude Sickness Tablets in Holborn, London — from £19.99
Ways Pharmacy offers a private altitude sickness prevention service for adults planning a trip to high altitude, from our GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1 — around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. A pharmacist reviews your route, ascent plan and health and, if preventive medicine is suitable, supplies acetazolamide with clear advice on how to use it alongside a sensible ascent. The assessment can be done online or in the pharmacy, in English or Chinese (中文).
Altitude sickness prevention at a glance
| Treatment option | Acetazolamide, taken as 125mg twice a day for prevention of acute mountain sickness |
|---|---|
| Price | £19.99 (14 tablets) · £29.99 (28 tablets) — no separate consultation fee; the online assessment is free and you only pay once the pharmacist confirms the medicine is suitable |
| Who it is for | Adults aged 18 and over travelling to 2,500 metres or higher who are at risk of altitude sickness |
| How it works | Online questionnaire, ID check and a phone or video call with the pharmacist — or a consultation in the pharmacy |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required before any supply. If acetazolamide is not suitable for you, it will not be supplied |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start your free online assessment or call 020 8106 7084.
What is altitude sickness?
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is caused by the lower oxygen level at high altitude. It usually starts above about 2,500 metres, especially when people climb quickly without time to acclimatise. Typical symptoms are headache, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, tiredness and poor sleep. Popular destinations where this can happen include treks to Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail, and high cities such as Cusco, La Paz and Lhasa.
Untreated, AMS can progress to high altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) or high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE), both of which can be fatal. The most important protection is a gradual ascent. Acetazolamide can reduce the risk of AMS when a gradual ascent is not possible or the risk is moderate to high, but it does not remove the risk and does not replace acclimatisation.
Treatment options and prices
| Option | What it is | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetazolamide 250mg tablets, taken as half a tablet (125mg) | 125mg twice a day, starting 1–2 days before ascent and continuing during the ascent and for at least 48 hours after reaching your highest altitude | £19.99 (14 tablets) | View product |
| Acetazolamide, longer trip | The same medicine for longer or multi-stage ascents | £29.99 (28 tablets) | View product |
The pharmacist works out how many tablets you need from your itinerary and avoids supplying more than the trip requires. Using acetazolamide to prevent altitude sickness is an established travel-medicine practice but is outside the product licence in the UK; the pharmacist will explain this before supply.
Who can use this service
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Planning travel to 2,500 metres or higher
- At risk of altitude sickness because of a rapid ascent, a high maximum altitude, or a previous episode of altitude sickness
- Trekkers, climbers, travellers flying directly into high-altitude cities, and people with limited time to acclimatise
- No allergy or medical condition that makes acetazolamide unsuitable
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
Acetazolamide will not be supplied through this service, and you should speak to your GP or a travel medicine specialist, if you:
- are allergic to acetazolamide or to sulfonamide ("sulfa") medicines
- have severe kidney or liver disease, a low sodium or potassium level, or Addison's disease
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- have had a serious reaction to acetazolamide before
- have a significant heart or lung condition, kidney stones, diabetes, glaucoma or epilepsy that needs individual advice before high-altitude travel
- take medicines that interact, such as diuretics, lithium, high-dose aspirin or some epilepsy medicines
At altitude: if you develop a severe headache, persistent vomiting, breathlessness at rest, a cough, confusion or difficulty walking in a straight line, descend immediately and get emergency medical help. These can be signs of HACE or HAPE. This service is for prevention only and does not treat altitude sickness.
How it works
- Start your free online assessment. Answer the health questions online and confirm your identity (upload photo ID, or show it on a video call). The questions cover your destination, highest altitude, planned rate of ascent, medical history and current medicines. If you are not sure which option suits you, call 020 8106 7084 first.
- The pharmacist reviews your answers and speaks with you by phone or video to confirm whether treatment is suitable.
- If suitable, choose and pay. The pharmacist confirms which treatment is suitable; you then order and pay online (acetazolamide), or call 020 8106 7084. If it is not suitable, you pay nothing (or get a full refund if you have already paid) — the pharmacist explains your other options.
- We post your medicine or you collect it. Orders approved by 3:00pm on a working day are dispatched the same day (see delivery information), or you can collect it from Holborn once it is approved.
You only pay once the pharmacist confirms the medicine is suitable. If you have already paid and it turns out not to be suitable, the pharmacist may suggest another option, or you get a full refund.
Travelling somewhere that also needs vaccines or malaria tablets? Peru, Bolivia, Tanzania and Nepal itineraries often do. See our travel vaccinations in Holborn.
Ascent advice that still applies
- Spend 2–3 days getting used to the altitude before going above 2,500 metres where you can.
- Above 3,000 metres, increase your sleeping altitude gradually and take a rest day every 3–4 days.
- Drink enough fluids, avoid alcohol in the first days, and avoid heavy exertion early on.
- If symptoms develop, do not go higher. If they worsen, go down.
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Free online assessment and no separate consultation fee — you only pay once the pharmacist confirms the medicine is suitable
- Assessment online or face to face, in English or Chinese (中文)
- Malaria tablets, travel vaccines and travellers' diarrhoea treatment available from the same pharmacy
- Around two minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn and Russell Square stations
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227); every supply is decided by a registered pharmacist
Frequently asked questions
How do I take acetazolamide for altitude sickness?
125mg twice a day, morning and evening, swallowed with water. Start 1–2 days before you begin to ascend, keep taking it during the ascent, and continue for at least 48 hours after you reach your highest altitude. If you miss a dose, take it when you remember, but do not double up.
Does acetazolamide stop altitude sickness completely?
No. It reduces the risk but you can still develop altitude sickness. A gradual ascent, rest and fluids are still essential, and anyone with worsening symptoms should go down.
What are the common side effects?
Tingling or pins and needles in the hands, feet or face, passing more urine, a changed taste (especially fizzy drinks) and tiredness. Nausea and dizziness are less common. Get urgent help for a rash, breathing difficulty or signs of an allergic reaction.
Can I use acetazolamide if I am allergic to sulfa antibiotics?
No. Acetazolamide is a sulfonamide, so a sulfonamide allergy means it will not be supplied.
Can I use it to treat altitude sickness once I have symptoms?
This service is for prevention only. If you have symptoms at altitude, stop ascending, rest, and descend if they get worse. Severe symptoms need emergency medical care.
Can teenagers on a school trip use this service?
No. This service is for adults aged 18 and over. Under-18s should get advice from their GP or a travel medicine specialist.
Do I need it for a trip to around 2,000 metres?
Altitude sickness is uncommon below about 2,500 metres, and most people at lower altitudes do not need medicine. The pharmacist will advise based on your exact plans.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
