serc betahistine for vertigo

I take 16mg of betahistine (serc in other countries) 4 times daily.
In the USA you must go to a pharmacy that does compounds because betahistine is not approved by the FDA. In other countries like Canada you can buy it as a pill.
I take the compounded capsule for like about 5 years now. I have no side effects to the compounded capsule. I used the pill from Canada and Peru and it gave me the worst headaches. A known side effect is pounding headaches.

 

I take 2 pills per day.
No side effects.

Unfortunately not much research out there shows it does anything...But, you never know...worth a shot!

 

It comes in different strengths also like 8, 16, and 24 mgs.

 

I am currently taking 24mg x 2, times a day. I started this after a drop attack a month ago. I have no side effects.

 

Meant to say 24mg x 2, 3 times a day. It is a high dose but I have not had a vertigo attack since taking this dose, over 3 weeks. Whether that is the reason, who knows. But I will stick with it for now.

 

My doctor at the U of Miami hospital who's from France tells me that there's lots of research out there suggesting that high doses of betahistine really improve the symptoms of Meniere's.
Do you use the compounded capsule version or the pill???

 

I use the pill, I am in Canada.

 

g 3x

Hi Katrina....funny I was just going to write to you to ask about your Canadian connection for betahistine to get a tablet form vs compounded capsule. I dropped back to 8mg 3x daily following terrible headaches at 32mg 3x.....but I frequently forget to take the med in that it has to be refrigerated and it doesnt sit with my other meds/pills. I'm thinking of upping to 16mg soon to see how that works in the long haul. So did I understand correctly you now use compounded? ps...hope you're doing as well as the last time we PM'd.

 

I've been taking 16mg 3x per day for about a year. Taking lots of other stuff too so don't know how much it helps, and no side effects that I can blame on betahistine. The good news is I have been vertigo free for more than a year.

I'm using a generic betahistine pill that I get for a decent price from Quality Prescription Drugs in Canada. It's cheaper than Serc, and also the generic I get is made in Canada which gives me some confidence (the Serc they sell is made in India if I remember correctly).

Feel better!

 

I've been on 8MG betahistine DI-HCL tablets, two times per day for approx. thirty days now, my doctor started me on them at the same time I started the JOH regime. He prescribed 3 tablets per day, but I'm only getting 90 tablets per prescription so I only take two to spread them out a little as my insurance doesn't cover them, so its out of pocket.
No side effects, but no improvement in my symptoms as far as ringing and pressure, both are still constant. Have had only a couple of minor vertigo issues, easily dealt with by taking my Valium, so its impossible to say if its having any positive affect or not. At this point I look at it like I look at the diuretics, its certainly can't hurt and anything is better........as long as I'm not spinning.

I have much more hope for the JOH regime being a long term fix and take them religiously (along with the Betshistine and diuretics) and will continue to do so for at least the next six months.........after that we'll see.

 

So do I understand correctly that you do not use any antiviral meds?

 

I’ve been taking betahistine 8mg 3 Times a day for over a year and I can’t say that it has really helped me. Mine gets made at compounding pharmacy. I had the sac surgery the day after Christmas and I’m still trying to recover from that. Will be starting AV and JOH regimen as soon as I finish recovering from the surgery. Hopefully with the combination of everything something will help. Best of luck to you in 2018. I have to believe there is some sort of help for each of us.

 

There’s an ENT in Burnaby BC Canada who spoke at a family medicine conference recently. He acknowledges that the studies don’t prove Serc is effective, but they tend to be lower doses. His impression is that many of his Menieres patients get some benefits from higher doses. He prescribes 96 mg twice a day.

I tried (probably Lower dose) early in my Menieres career. Not sure if it had any positive or negative effects.

For me, I’m concerned about the potential headache side effects.

Also, I do come from an allergenic family, have a few allergies and so it just doesn’t make sense to me to put a pro-histamine substance in my body. Just my gut feeling... and as part of my regime right now I’m on an anti-histamine... and I’m doing ok.

But I think for some people the Serc May improve good circulation to our poor little inner ears.

It’s so difficult and unclear to experiment with ourselves because of the fluctuating nature of The Beast.

 

Could you please tell me what JOH and AV stand for. I'm 67 & I've had menier's for over 15 years. I had severe vertigo often with vomiting. My ENT put me on a low sodium diet, along with diuretic. Also see chiropractor regularly because I have a bad neck. The vertigo has pretty much been gone for several years. Though, I was a unsteady and have some fullness and tinnitus on continual basis. Lately, though, the fullness and pressure on that side of my head, even in my jaw and eye, has gotten worse. I am also a lot less steady, and feel as if I could have vertigo at any time. I was hoping it would ease up again, but it hasn't yet. I am suppose to leave in a week for a cruise, which I have never done. I went to my ENT and he has prescribed the Scopolamine patch to wear on the ship because I am afraid the meniers will make me more prone to sea sickness. But I am considering canceling my trip. This stuff is the pits!!!!!

 

Joh is John of Ohio, a biologist here who studied and put together a bunch of supplements that many here have found helpful. Use the search icon, or look through the Database section.

AV is antivirals (acyclovir, famvir, Valacyclovir/valtrex).

Check out MAV info - many of us have Menieres plus an element of Migraine Associated Vertigo, and get improvements when we treat both.

If you are getting desperate (ain’t we all??!) also look at the procedures and surgery options - gentamicin, VNS, laby (labyrinthectomy).

This is a good forum, lots of great info and support. We have it too, and we get it.

 

Rebecca, I have never had a problem on a cruise. In fact, I think the relaxing environment is more stabilizing than the stresses of home. It's possible that the increased symptoms you are currently having are made worse by the stress of getting ready for your trip.

In many ways, a cruise is a great way for menierians to travel: if there should be a problem, there is a cozy room steps away for recovering. You will have medical help available, you are in a place built for unsteadiness (i.e., lots of handrails, etc.), and you can be chill about how much and what you want to do. If you are concerned, bring a stronger rescue medicine -- valium, ativan, or whatever you use to get through a full-blown spin attack -- and talk with your doctor about when and how to use it along with the scopolamine. (Don't use the rescue medicine as a preventative, or you will sleep your way through the trip!)

Weigh the "what-if" of going on the cruise against the certainty of meniere's controlling your life if you don't go. This is a disease that gets more and more confining because of our fears. What is the worst that can happen, and what is the best that can happen? Imagine how cool it would be to find out cruising is an enjoyable future vacation option.

Bon Voyage!

p.s. Did you know that deaf people don't get seasick?

 

Clare, thank you for your great advice and encouragement!! You are so right about letting this control our lives! This is a two week cruise to Hawaii with a group of really nice folks that I have known for quite some time, although not really close friends. One of my concerns, of course, is putting an added burden on them or causing them to not enjoy themselves as much as they should. I hesitated accepting the offer to join them when I learned it was two weeks. A long time to be on a ship. But, I surely will listen to your encouragement, that totally makes sense. Just have to convince my overthinking brain!!!

 

Thank you Anne T for the explanation of JOH and AV. I have spoken to my ENT regarding the different procedures. He says there are complications, and doesn't like to consider them unless a person's Menier's is severely debilitating.

 

Clare, I have a few questions, please. It sounds as though you have been on more than one cruise while battling this disease. Did you use anything to avoid sea sickness? What Meniers symptoms were present prior to leaving on your trip and their severity? Did you find it difficult to follow a low sodium diet? I have notified Princess lines of my low sodium diet. They responded they will do all they can to help. But, because they have to rely on a lot of frozen foods, they can not guarantee sodium content in some of their offerings.