Yes I am the same 16mg three times a day with food. It has for sure made a difference to how I feel but it isn't a magic cure.
Andrew the first improvement came after two weeks of 16x3 usage, I noticed that my balance improved and my ears did not feel as plugged. The improvement however was marginal. The 8x3 was my original prescribed dosage but it had no effect on my symptoms. My greatest relief came when I started taking a diuretic once a day in conjunction with the 16x3 dosage of the Betahistine. My word recognition really improved and the sound distortion got a lot better. I had gotten to a point where I couldn't understand the dialogue on the television, it had gotten difficult to discern the words. This is my second month so I'm hoping it continues to improve. My audiologist testing bore out my improvement because my word recognition testing went from 70 to almost back to 100. I reduced my sound level two settings also on the hearing aids. Just to give you a little background on my condition I was diagnosed in 2020 with bilateral Meniere's. I only had one episode of spinning that happened in 2020 however some days I feel off balance. I have moderate hearing loss in both ears.
My doctor initially prescribed Betahistine 8mg three times a day. It was a big help but I continued to experience episodes of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. While the episodes were far less severe I continued to have them. After twelve months the doctor increased the dose to 16mg three times a day. For the next month I continued to experience the same symptoms. After a month things improved dramatically. Since then I have not had a single episode. Tinnitus has improved but still present. In addition to Betahistine I take Valacyclovir 1000mg twice a day and HCTZ 12.5mg once a day.
I have been taking Betahistine 24mg twice a day for 5 years now. Although this dose has helped with brain fog, vertigo and tinnitus I find my hearing has got worse. Vertigo has definately improved with just an infrequent attack. Can't drive anymore and have to use a walker to get out and about.
The problem with Menieres as a doctor once said, is that the only predictable thing about it is its unpredictability. I have taken 48mg in the morning and 32mg at night for months now and might have concluded that with about 6 months respite that it was ‘working’. Then at New Year I had a severe attack with vertigo and all the usual symptoms. A further attack just a week ago. In between there have been several minor earthquakes and feelings of instability. The co-incidence of taking a new medication and being symptom free for a while may encourage the belief that it is ‘working’ whereas in reality you are experiencing a random respite period. I just say this not to fill everyone with gloom and despair but to caution against false conclusions. Things like exercise, good diet, hydration and positive thinking may in the short and longer term produce more beneficial results. Stress - which oif course is an effect of suffering from this condition - is important to avoid and the right mental approach can achieve as much as the many drugs mentioned on the forum.
Hi everyone. I was hoping to get some info/advise too on dosage. I’m new here but had my first attack last May 2025 and started on Betahistine quite soon after as my Uncle has Menieres and my Granny also suffered so after BPV was ruled out I requested to start the treatment immediately. Both my Uncle and Granny did not start suffering until their 70’s and I am 47. I started on 3x 8mg Betahistine which wasn’t doing much to control the symptoms and attacks of vertigo. The Dr increased my dosage to 3x 16mg a day which had been working pretty well for a good few months until last Tuesday. I don’t know if it’s coincidental or if I’m just having a flare up, but I had a deep tissue back and neck massage the Saturday prior to the attack so initially wondered if that could have triggered it. I’ve been really struggling ever since and my tablets are doing very little currently. I had an awful attack Monday evening and had to call a friend to pick me up from work as the vertigo was so bad. I’ve had some mini attacks every day since and another big one a couple of hours ago. I’m a single mum and part self employed/ part work in retail so am trying to not let stress contribute but it’s hard when I cannot work. I read that my dosage is the maximum recommended but wondered if other people have required stronger to keep the attacks under control? I have a full ENT examination booked next Weds as I haven’t had a formal diagnosis, and am trying osteopathy tomorrow in the hope it alleviates something as it’s making me feel so awful. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Just to note I usually weight train frequently and follow a healthy lifestyle. I’ve barely touched caffeine since last Tuesday but would usually only have 1 Matcha a day so not a big caffeine drinker. I am perimenopausal so have been using HRT for around 5 months.
With betahistine is really hit & miss, I know unpredictable answer for this unpredictable disease. You could try upping your does but as is with this dammned disease who knows if its remissionary period or actually working? You didn't mention your salt intake. How is that? Salt intakes cause me hell, usally 6-24 hours after eating it I'm having a flare up. I never paid much attention to salt & it was cause of most of my attacks I found. I am on betahistmine on 3x16 & it keeps my attacks moderated, but it doesn't end them entirely. For example, I'm no longer on the floor vomiting for 18 hours in the back of an ambulance each attack. Instead its a few hours in bed, feeling terrible but not bringing up my dinner. Have you considered any rescue medication for when attacks hit? I have got Prochlorperazin, it helps but it won't return you to yourself, so to speak, but can stop vomiting if its a issue. Again with rescue meds its diffrent for everyone sorry... Here's a question of mine for people & maybe yourself. I've been taking betahistmine for 2 months straight now. I feel quite tired/fatigued. I am not sure is it the stress of this disease or is it these meds? I dont' feel like myself at all. My balance is very messed up these past 4 weeks, and I wonder if this is causing my fatigue, possibly. Its a real effort to walk properly, takes active conscious effort now. What did I do to deserve this disease!
@chair22, I take 12x2, I definitely need to increase to 3 a day. I’ve been taking betahistine for years, the self injection once a week is best, but to costly. The pills work pretty good. Betahistine never made me feel tired. Are you taking other types of meds? When were you diagnosed with Menieries? Are you bilateral or one ear only? I don’t know your history, so, no salt,no caffeine, no artificial sweeteners (stevia doesn’t seem to bother me), no aspartame(found in diet drinks). Another pill that helps me a lot is Loratadine 10 mg. For allergy relief, especially if you live in the south during allergy season, also a couple of shots of Flonase up the sinuses Helps.
Yes I'd say any lower than 16x3 wont' work for me. Personally I would like to try 24x3 to test, maybe my ENT will let me if I request it. I've been following the JoH regime but its too early to tell if its helping. (Its helping me outside of my ear, I feel much better, likely fixed the deficiencies I had?) I've been taking the Vinpocetine one 10mg in the morning, so far can't tell if its a difference. I'm tempted to take x3 of these a day to see if it bump up the effects of betahistamine slightly. I really feel like im 90% there with the feeling in my ear, I just need that extra push to clear it. I will take a look into Loratadine, I get allergies over here in the UK in season and its never nice. Never led me to any attacks I just feel in general not great in that season.
sorry chair22, I thought you lived in Denver, Co. Does your government offer any type of disability for Meneiries Disease over in the UK? Might be worth checking into. I’m going to look into an Allergist, to see if that will help, for me Spring is the worst time, causing dizziness and light headedness. Good luck to you, I hope everything works out for you.
Only if it impacts daily living, and even then, you have to fight tooth and nail. I did take a look but for the money they will give, its hardly worth the hassle. As I'm too wealthly anything means tested is going to be ignored out here. I, for one, did not bother. If you went out of work cause of it, I'm unsure. Luckily, I run my own Company & have been able to delegate tasks to other co-chair holders as well as enough to retire already eitherway. I do feel for the less fortunate who are struck by this hidden disease, many are not very compassionate about your condition until they see u spinning and vomiting on the floor, from experience.