hmm I clicked on the link that article suggested and found this on it: http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/drug/serc.html Availability "At the time of this update (2/2010), we generally just send patient to Walgreens. Betahistine can also be easily obtained through US compounding pharmacies, with a prescription. It is difficult to see why an inert substance must be prescribed, but nevertheless, this is the situation in the US. Insurance often covers betahistine too." It looks like it is saying you can get it at Walgreens and insurance covers it??
I found this too http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/drug/SERC%20sources.htm AVAILABILITY OF BETAHISTINE (SERC) Timothy C. Hain, MD Please read our disclaimer Return to Index. Page last modified: December 31, 2010 Betahistine is a treatment for dizziness and hearing problems. It has a strange history and in the United States, Serc is in the possibly unique position of being a substance categorized as a placebo by the FDA, that nevertheless is generally obtained by taking an ordinary prescription to the pharmacy and getting it filled. See the main Betahstine page if you are wondering what this is all about. Serc is available at Walgreens While in the past it was somewhat difficult to obtain betahistine, now it can be purchased easily at Walgreen's pharmacies. The cost at Walgreens is very reasonable, and in our experience, roughly 1/3 of the price at the compounding pharmacies where one used to have to go. The process at Walgreens is that you take in your prescription to the pharmacy. When the technician at the front desk says that they don't carry it, ask for it to be special ordered through the Walgreens compounding service. This usually works very well. Sometimes Walgreens clerks or pharmacists will claim that they have "never heard of Serc". This does not mean that Walgreen's doesn't carry Serc -- it means that the clerk is uninformed. Here, we suggest that you politely ask for the "compounding pharmacist", and suggest to them that if they can't figure it out, to call a Walgreens branch that knows how to do this.
Sorry to hear it’s expensive for you, deadeye. In Canada, I get 270 tabs of Betahistine (16mg) for about $23. British Columbia PharmaCare pays the other 60% of the cost Can you tell me where you buy your Betahistine? I also live in British Columbia, take 3 x 24mg tablets daily and pay $99.31 for 270 tablets, Bill
I assume that question is directed to me, Valley Resident. I live in James Bay, Victoria. I get my Betahistine at Thrifty Foods Pharmacy. The last receipt reads ... Rx: XXXXXXX 270 TAB Teva-Betahistine 16mg Betahistine Hydrochloride 16mg DIN: XXXXXXXX TEV Days:30 Refills:3 Cost: 55.62 Fee: 10.60 Total: 66.22 BC Pharmacare (Pl): 43.13 Patient Pays: 23.09 The obvious difference is that you are buying 24mg tabs and I am getting 16mg tabs. That would explain the basic cost difference, Valley Resident. Sincerely.
my Oto doc told me that they like Serc, but said that benzos are just as helpful. Then he looked at me as if he was thinking (I am so glad that I don't have what you have, because I don't know how you got it and I don't how your going to end up).........then he sent me on my way, because the waiting room was packed with people with canes and messed up ears.
Deadeye and others, any side effects on Serc (high or low dose)? I read it can increase headaches, cause tummy problems. I'm trying low dose right now. I can handle the unilateral deafness and tinnitus - can't handle the sudden onset vertigo/vomit attacks which have returned recently.
Low-dosage, Betahistine (16mg/3-times daily) was pretty much worthless “for me”. Once I hit 4 tablets/3x a day and 2 at bedtime (224mg/day), everything got better. I was prepared to go as high as 10-tablets/3-times a day, if necessary. Well, actually, as high as I had to. The Meniere’s may be in natural remission (following a 3-day/4-attack cluster of very weak attacks), however, my Tinnitus noise level dropped to “barely there” and my hearing is now at 80-90% of my normal for that ear. This is after fifteen years of Tinnitus in my right ear. Occasionally I do notice a mild headache about fifteen, or so, minutes after ingesting 60mg of Betahistine but it’s not much of a headache and it passes in ten+/- minutes. No tummy problems so far. Good luck, Anne.
checked with walgreens and i have it ordered! you guys are fantastic words can't express my gratitude for this board now let's see if it helps will get it in about a week $50 for about 300 16mg saved me some cash! thanks am going to start with 3 16mgs a day for a month and take it from there does that sound like a good starting point? have had menieres for bout 25 yrs
wow deadeye that's a huge savings! I hope it does the trick for you and so glad we now know for sure it can be gotten at Walgreens if anyone wants to give it a try.
Knowing what I know now and just from my own experience, I would start right away at 64mg/3-times a day (and 32mg at bedtime) .... 9:00am - 64mg (4 tablets) 3:00pm - 64mg (4 tablets) 9:00pm - 64mg (4 tablets) Bedtime - 32mg (2 tablets) I’m just writing what I would do if I had a 25-year history of Meniere’s, like you. If that didn’t do the trick, after 7 - 10 days, I would go to 6 tabs/3-times a day ... then, if need be, 8 tabs/3-times a day ... and so on. Please remember that I am not a qualified medical specialist. I’m just a guy who uses the Internet to research every ailment I have or have had and present my findings (usually, in printed form) to my GP of forty years. Good luck, deadeye.
Anyone drowsy on Serc (betahistine)? I'm on 32 mg 3 times a day, and so sleepy. I don't know if it's just that I am worn out, just quit one part-time job, and catching up on burnout, or if it's the Serc. I could stop to see if I'm more alert, but then I guess I'd have to start the taper all over again?
Yes, I do get drowsy, at no specific times. However, I can easily live with occasional drowsiness as random attacks of Meniere’s, and variable noise levels caused by Tinnitus, plus the inability to function normally in society because of these conditions, seems a really bad alternative to me. I also take Nardil (anti-depressant), Clonazepam (tranquilizer) and, occasionally, Xanax (tranq’), to keep my Anxiety Disorder (panic attacks since 16 years of age) a distant memory. The tranq’s can make me drowsy, anyway, so I’ve had many years of practice coping. I guess we may be thankful for small mercies. Good luck, AnneT.
Thanks, Backlite. I stopped the Serc, and feel less drowsy - back to my usual levels of fatigue/pacing myself. I'm going to see if the vertigo settles down, now that I also got rid of a major stressor. I see a specialist on Thursday - see what they say. Thanks!
am getting tested for allergies monday after reading so many posts have to hold off on the serc for 4 days before testing will get back on it tues.
Hi. I just wanted to know who is ordering these "high" dosages of serc that some of you here are taking. I am bilateral, and have had MM now for 13 yrs. I take 24mg. tabs, 4 x a day, which = 96mg. The last time that I saw my specialist in Halifax, NS., he even told me that the 96mg. was "a lot" of serc to be taking. It was my GP that had increased my dosage to the 96mg., but I've been told that's the highest dosage, and I can't go any higher. I even called the pharmacy here where I live, and had inquired if there was anyone else that was taking serc at a higher dosage than my own, and she said no, that I was the highest, and she had never heard of dosages as high as what I told her that some people were taking on here.