Details

Betahistine is belongs to a group of medications used to treat vertigo associated with Ménière's disease. Vertigo is a condition that causes sufferers to have a sensation of rotation or movement of themselves or their surroundings. Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes vertigo in addition to symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headache, and loss of hearing. Betahistine is used to reduce the number of episodes of vertigo associated with Ménière's disease. It is believed to work by decreasing the pressure in the ear. It is this pressure which is believed to contribute to the sense of dizziness, nausea, and ringing in the ears and hearing loss that people with Ménière's disease experience.

Typical Uses

Ménière's disease is a condition of the inner ear. It typically causes attacks of vertigo (a feeling of spinning), loss of hearing, and tinnitus (noises in the ear). The attacks can vary in severity, and in how often they occur. Treatment can help to ease and prevent symptoms. Betahistine is thought to work by improving the flow of blood in your inner ear. This reduces a build-up of pressure and eases your symptoms.

Side Effects

Contact your doctor if you experience headache, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, stomach upset, vomiting or signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., swelling of face or throat, hives, or difficulty breathing). Before using betahistine, inform your doctor if you have asthma, stomach ulcers, are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

There may be an interaction between betahistine and antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine, cetirizine, chlorpheniramine) or beta-2-agonists (e.g., salbutamol, salmeterol, fenoterol, formoterol).

Mechanism of action

Betahistine belongs to the group of medicines called histamine analogues. It acts by improving blood flow in the inner ear, which reduces the build-up of pressure causing vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and nausea.

Pregnancy Category : B