What is betahistine used for?
Betahistine is used to treat symptoms of Meniere’s disease, a condition of the inner ear that can cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, vertigo (a spinning sensation), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and hearing loss.
There is a lack of good-quality trials investigating its effectiveness but it does appear to have positive effects on vertigo, although it is hard to determine how great these effects are.
Betahistine may also be called betahistine dihydrochloride.
How does betahistine work?
Experts aren’t sure exactly how betahistine works to treat Meniere’s disease but it is a potent histamine-3 (H3) receptor antagonist and may work as a vasodilator. Blocking H3 receptors increases histamine release and some research suggests histamine receptors regulate the function of nerves in the inner ear. However, there are contradictory theories and it is not exactly clear how it may help.
Is betahistine approved in the U.S.?
Betahistine is not approved in the United States. Interestingly, it was approved in the U.S. in the 1960s but after 5 years the approval was withdrawn due to a lack of evidence for its efficacy. Further studies have also had design flaws, such as the lack of a control group or the comparison group being prescribed a homeopathic preparation, except for a study in 2017 (Motamed et al) that reported betahistine was superior to promethazine.
It may be possible to order betahistine through US compounding pharmacies, with a prescription. Insurance plans are unlikely to cover betahistine, and patients will have to pay for it themselves, at an estimated cost of around $50/month, although this price varies depending on the compounding pharmacy.
Is betahistine approved in the U.K.?
Yes, betahistine is approved in the United Kingdom and it is one of the most popular drugs to be prescribed for people with Meniere’s disease.
What are the brand names for betahistine?
The most common and well-known brand name for betahistine is Serc, which is available in the United Kingdom. There are many other reported brand names for betahistine, some of which may no longer be marketed. Some brand names include:
- ACT Betahistine – Canada
- Betahistine – many countries, including Belgium, Malta, Netherlands
- Be-Stedy – Oman
- Betaserc – many countries including Argentina, Colombia, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Thailand, Singapore, Switzerland
- Balanse – India
- Cyathus/Cyathus Exquirere – Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia
- Histine – Egypt
- Novertin - Paraguay
- Serc – Australia, New Zealand, UK
- Vertin – India, Turkey.
Synonyms for betahistine include
- Betahistin
- Betahistina.
References
- About Betahistine (Serc) NHS https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/betahistine/about-betahistine/#:~:text=Betahistine%20is%20a%20medicine%20used,ringing%20in%20the%20ears%20(tinnitus)
- Meniere’s disease. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menieres-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374910
- Motamed, H., Moezzi, M., Rooyfard, A. D., Angali, K. A., & Izadi, Z. (2017). A Comparison of the Effects and Side Effects of Oral Betahistine with Injectable Promethazine in the Treatment of Acute Peripheral Vertigo in Emergency. Journal of clinical medicine research, 9(12), 994–997. https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3093w
- Hain T. Serc (betahistine) https://dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/drug/serc.html
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