Acute Mountain Sickness (Altitude Illness)

Treating AMS

If you have symptoms of AMS:

• Rest until you no longer have symptoms. Don't travel to higher altitudes until symptoms go away.

• Don't drink alcohol or take sleeping pills or other sedatives.

• You can take medicines for symptoms. For headache, taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin, can help. Don't give aspirin to children younger than age 18. Medicine for nausea can also help. 

• If your symptoms don't get better within 24 to 48 hours, go back down to a lower altitude where you should feel better. 

Preventing AMS

• Make sure that you gain no more than 1,000 feet of elevation in a day when you travel. This gives your body more time to adjust to the change.

• Sleep at a lower altitude than the highest altitude you traveled to during the day.

• If you plan to keep moving up in altitude, stop and rest for 1 day at least every 2 to 3 days.

• Watch for symptoms. If any symptoms come back, stop and rest right away. Or return to a lower altitude.

• Ask your health care provider about a prescription medicine that may help prevent altitude sickness.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider or as advised.

When to get medical advice

If your symptoms don't get better within 24 to 48 hours or get worse, return to a lower altitude and seek help.

Call 911

Call 911 and go to a lower altitude right away if you have any of the following:

• Confusion and irritability

• Severe tiredness, sleepiness, or weakness

• Acting drunk

• Trouble with speech or vision

• Trouble walking or talking

• Loss of consciousness

• Seizure

• Trouble breathing

• Coughing up pink or foamy spit