Effect of parenteral acetazolamide on intestinal absorption of salt and water in man.

Acetazolamide was administered intravenously during jejunal perfusion of isotonic saline in six subjects. Bicarbonate was present in very low concentration intraluminally and there was net bicarbonate secretion during control and acetazolamide perfusions. Acetazolamide significantly inhibited sodium chloride, and water absorption. As this occurred in the absence of an effect on net bicarbonate secretion, it may have been due to an action other than carbonic anhydrase inhibition.