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Betahistine (Vertin)

Betahistine is a drug which is commonly prescribed to patients suffering from vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness or imbalance. It is often given to patients with Meniere’s disease which is a condition in which the pressure of the inner ear fluid is increased.

Betahistine is a long-term control medicine rather than a quick symptom suppressant, which is why its benefits are gradual and cumulative.

Dosage

Betahistine is commercially available in strengths of 8, 16, 24 and 48 mg. It is said to have a dose-dependent effect which means the higher the dose it is given, the more effective it would be.

Special Precautions

Betahistine should be avoided or prescribed with caution in the following:

  • Children below 18 years
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Bronchial Asthma
  • Peptic ulcer
  • Pheochromocytoma

What Are Dizziness Tablets?

Dizziness tablets are medicines prescribed to help manage vertigo, motion sickness, and balance disorders caused by inner ear or nerve dysfunction. They work by reducing nausea, controlling spinning sensations, and stabilizing balance signals in the brain.

Important Note: These medicines are not effective for positional vertigo (BPPV), which is treated with canalith repositioning maneuvers like the Epley maneuver rather than medication.

Key Dizziness Tablet Profiles

  1. Meclizine (Antihistamine)
  • Onset: ~1 hour after intake
  • Best for: Motion sickness, short-term vertigo relief
  • Side effects: Drowsiness, dry mouth.

 Avoid driving or operating machinery after use

  1. Betahistine (Histamine Analogue)
  • Onset: Full therapeutic benefit takes several weeks.
  • Best use: Meniere’s disease, chronic inner ear diseases.
  • Side effects: Headache, slight stomach upset.

Use with caution if you have peptic ulcer disease or asthma

  1. Dimenhydrinate (Antihistamine)
  • Onset: Around 30 minutes
  • Indications of use: Motion sickness, a type of dizziness caused by labyrinthitis.
  • Side effects: blurred vision, sedation.

 Do not combine with alcohol due to additive drowsiness

  1. Prochlorperazine (Antiemetic/Antipsychotic)
  • Onset: 30–60 minutes
  • Indications: Vertigo with a sense of vomiting and nausea, severe vertigo.
  • Side effects: Drowsiness, muscle stiffness, restlessness.

Only to be used under strict medical supervision.

 Safety & Red-Flag Callouts

Do not attempt to treat up-at-me-altitude, or dizziness, with tablets when you are also experiencing:

  • Sudden hearing loss
  • Severe headache or blurred/duplicated vision.
  • Speech becomes slurred, numb, or faints.
  • Continued vomiting or chest pain.

Discontinue only under medical advice, or when symptoms become severe despite treatment.

Non-Drug Approaches (Completeness)

Most patients have a treatment plan that is not covered by tablets. Misdemeanor policies also count:

  • Epley Maneuver: Reduction of inner ear crystal position, in case of BPPV.
  • Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT): Activities: This practice re-educates the brain on chronic imbalance.
  • Lifestyle modifications: Sufficient fluid intake, sleep and reduced caffeine, alcohol and tobacco consumption to minimize the symptoms.

Side Effects

Betahistine may cause allergies, skin-related hypersensitivity like tingling and numbness, shortness of breath and increased acidity due to raised histamine levels.

Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor about all medications you are taking as drug interactions may occur with Betahistine.

Betahistine is a histamine analogue which has an H1 receptor agonist and H3 receptor antagonist role. Due to this effect, it should not be given with H1 receptor antagonist like Cinnarizine as it will reduce the efficiency of both drugs.

Betahistine should be taken in the dosage prescribed by your doctor for the duration specified. Always inform your doctor about any pre-existing medical condition and share the following information:

  • Any current medication you are taking
  • Reports of the medical condition
  • Any respiratory problems
  • Any gastric or intestinal problems
  • Allergy to any drugs

Mechanism Of Action

The active ingredient of Betahistine is Betahistine hydrochloride or Betahistinedemesytate. Betahistine is one of the few drugs known which is said to improve the microcirculation of the inner ear. It works as a histamine analogue through 2 modes of action(1) agonist of H1 receptors and (2) antagonist of H3 receptors. It has a weak effect on H1 receptors but strong effect on H3 receptors. Studies have shown that by increasing the blood supply to the inner ear, both cochlear and vestibular parts, Betahistine may help in rebalancing the production and resorption of fluids within the inner ear system. Under the virtue of this effect, Betahistine is useful in the management of Meniere’s disease which is associated with endolymphatic hydrops or increased endolymphatic pressure within the inner ear resulting in episodes of vertigo accompanied by tinnitus and fluctuating hearing loss. If Meniere’s disease is not treated appropriately and timely, it can progress to the permanent hearing loss in the affected ear with a persistent unsteadiness.

Betahistine does not cause drowsiness, a common side effect of most vestibular suppressants used in vertigo management. Because of this action, it has less chance of jeopardizing the central compensation mechanism.

Recently some papers have also described the peripheral effects of betahistine on the balance organs of the ear. It is said to decrease the sensory input from this area thereby decreasing the excitatory response. Betahistine is different from other drugs used in vertigo management in that it does not suppress the working of the central nervous system that is important for the recovery of vestibular disorders.

Betahistine and Migraine  What It Can & Cannot Do

Betahistine is sometimes prescribed in patients with vestibular migraine, where dizziness or vertigo occurs as part of migraine-related balance dysfunction.

However:

  • It does not treat migraine headaches directly
  • It does not act as a migraine permanent treatment
  • Its role is limited to improving inner ear circulation and reducing vertigo episodes

For vestibular migraine, betahistine may be used as supportive therapy, while migraine-specific preventive medicines and lifestyle changes form the core treatment.

Is There a Migraine Permanent Treatment?

Currently, there is no single migraine permanent treatment that cures the condition completely.

Instead, long-term control focuses on:

  • Trigger identification (sleep, stress, diet)
  • Preventive medications
  • Vestibular rehabilitation (for balance symptoms)
  • Consistent follow-up

Patients experiencing dizziness due to migraine should be evaluated carefully to avoid inappropriate long-term use of vertigo medicines alone.

Availability

Betahistine is widely used in Europe and Asia. It is not available in the USA as it does not have FDA approval.

Disclaimer

All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. NeuroEquilibrium™ only provides a reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Please base your medical decisions only on the advice of a doctor or a registered medical professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can migraines be overcome permanently?

Permanent defeat of migraines normally involves a decrease in frequency and severity of the headache but not a definite cure. Identifying triggers, working on sleep, dealing with stress, and preventive treatments may be used on a preventive basis. In individuals who experience balance or neurological dysfunctions during a migraine, other clinics such as Neuroequillibrium are dedicated to a specific form of assessment and treatment that targets the underlying factors and can dramatically minimize the number of recurring incidences with time.

During pregnancy, you should visit the ER in case of a migraine that is sudden, severe or not consistent with your regular migraines. Consult emergency treatment when it is accompanied with changes in vision, confusion, fever, high blood pressure, swelling, weakness, and chronic vomiting. The symptoms can be an indication of severe diseases like preeclampsia, stroke, or infection and must always be considered as urgent.

Frequently used triggers are a well-known method to remember the 5 C’s of migraines. They usually contain caffeine, cheese, chocolate, citrus foods, and alterations in weather or cold. Not all people respond to the same triggers but monitoring the influence of these factors on your headaches could help you determine some patterns and curb the occurrence of migraine attacks by making some basic lifestyle changes.

Combination of lifestyle change and age-specific medications is used to manage migraine headaches in children. It is necessary to get regular sleep, eat well, maintain adequate water intake, and manage stress. Physicians might prescribe analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen and in certain instances preventative drugs. The treatment depends on the age, symptoms and the frequency of migraine in the child.

Yes, migraine will result in dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues, a phenomenon popularly referred to as vestibular migraine. Such symptoms can be accompanied or without head pain and can be experienced as spinning, unsteadiness or an aversion to motion. To detect the underlying problem and provide specific treatment to improve the management of the symptoms, specialized centers like Neuroequillibrium are used to evaluate balance and neurological activity.

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