Betahistine prescription

I took serc ( betahistine ) and a diuretic at the same time with no problems. However in my opinion if you have serc as a preventative and ( buccastem in the uk ) or valium or ativan in the usa you should hopefully get control over your symptoms. I don't rate diuretics, I think they cause more problems than they solve.

 

I just got a prescription for Betahistine, which I will have filled at a compounding pharmacy within a day or two. Did anyone have adverse side effects from taking Betahistine? I tend to be somewhat sensitive to drugs, hence my interest in other people's experience with it. Thanks

 

The only thing that I remember as being a bad reaction to betahistine was wild and weird dreams, strange to say that but the dreams went away after I no longer needed betahistine.

 

I got headaches each afternoon when I started taking it. They weren't terrible and it only lasted 3-4 days, then nothing since. I'm on 24mg 3x/day but at the time I started I think i was doing 16mg.

 

Thanks for all of the feedback. I will start Betahistine tomorrow at 16 mg. per day and see how it goes. I will continue taking Spironolactone for the time being, assuming there are no complications with the Betahistine. Vincent

 

Thanks Lisa. A month's supply cost me $94 at a compounding pharmacy here in Washington, DC. Insurance did not cover it. I will start today at 16 mg. per day, which I gather is a fairly low dose. Hopefully it will work for me. Vincent

 

Long-term prophylactic treatment of attacks of vertigo in Menière's disease--comparison of a high with a low dosage of betahistine in an open trial.
Author information: Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.

Abstract
CONCLUSION:
Despite the considerable limitations of an open, non-masked trial, particularly in Menière's disease (MD), a higher dosage of betahistine-dihydrochloride and a long-term treatment seems to be more effective than a low dosage and short-term treatment.

OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the prophylactic effects of a low versus high dosage long-term treatment with betahistine-dihydrochloride on the number of attacks in MD.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:
We performed an open, non-masked trial, in which patients with MD received either a low dosage of betahistine-dihydrochloride (16 or 24 mg tid) or a higher dosage of 48 mg tid for at least 12 months. The outcome measure was the number of attacks per month during a 3-month period. Non-parametric tests and a random effects model were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS:

A total of 112 patients were included in the analysis: 50 received betahistine-dihydrochloride in a low dosage (16 mg tid, n=21, 24 mg, n=29) and 62 received 48 mg tid. Follow-up examination every 3 months showed that the number of attacks per month decreased in both groups over time. For instance, after 12 months the mean (median) number of attacks dropped from 7.6 (4.5) to 4.4 (2.0) (p<0.0001) in the low-dosage group, and from 8.8 (5.5) to 1.0 (0.0) (p<0.0001) in the high dosage group. The number of attacks after 12 months was significantly lower in the high dosage group than in the low dosage group (p(12M)=0.0002). The treatment was well tolerated in both groups.
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High-dosage betahistine dihydrochloride between 288 and 480 mg/day in patients with severe Menière's disease: a case series.
Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit and the side effects of high dosages of betahistine dihydrochloride (288-480 mg/day) in patients with severe Menière's disease (MD).

In this case series 11 patients with MD who had not responded sufficiently to a dosage of 144 mg/day of betahistine dihydrochloride were treated on an individual basis with daily dosages between 288 and 480 mg of betahistine dihydrochloride. The number of attacks per month and the side effects were monitored. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis.

As a result, the frequency and the severity of vertigo were significantly reduced in all patients. The side effects were mild, self-limiting, and did not require any change in the treatment strategy. Despite the considerable limitations of an observational study--in particular in MD--high dosages of betahistine dihydrochloride between 288 and 480 mg/day seem to be effective in patients who do not sufficiently respond to lower dosages. Moreover, such dosages are well tolerated.

 

Vincent, I hope Betahistine works for you, as well. I feel it was the beginning of the let-up of symptoms for me. I still have minor vertigo spells occasionally, but they are more like less than a minute now, compared to the previous 40 minutes to an hour. Plus, recovery is quite rapid. I pay the same as you...$94 a month at a compounding pharmacy. Insurance doesn't cover the cost, but I see it as a small price to pay for RELIEF!! Good luck to you.

Margie

 

I have been taking 16 mg. of betahistine per day (8 mg. twice a day) for about a month. I have gotten some relief, but reading other posts makes me think the dosage is too low. Maybe I should try 24 mg. or 32 mg. per day. I will check with my doctor. Any thoughts from anyone on their experiences with betahistine? Thanks, Vincent

 

I take 8 mg. 3x per day. It took about two months to see some improvement. Now I'm one month vertigo free!