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Anyone using SERC (betahistine) does it help?

Posted , 6 users are following.

paul757
paul757

Hello, I've had meniere's now for 11 years, I live in the United States, my ENT told me he was going to write me a prescription for SERC (betahistine) I can not buy it here in the United States so I have to get it from a Canadian Pharmacy, I am so desperate to stop or at least lessen my vertigo attacks I'll try anything at this point. Heck, I'd go to a witch doctor if I thought there was even a chance at stopping this dreaded vertigo. Anyone on here using SERC (betahistine) with any good results? Thank you for any input, or personal experience with this drug, that you can provide.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • libby51672
    libby51672 paul757

    Posted

    Yes, I am on Serc 16.  I find it really helps and seems to be a drug that is very well tolerated, I have no side effects.  Serc and a very very low salt diet.  Good luck
  • paul_88958
    paul_88958 paul757

    Posted

    Hi I'm on betahistine. Was on 16mg 3 x day but just doubled to 32mg 3 x day. Im not sure if they are helping but don't want to stop incase they are.

    I guess everyone is different so I would go with what ENT say is best and try anything. Bad day again for me, almost daily now. Good luck with whatever you do.

  • JMJ
    JMJ paul757

    Posted

    Dear Paul,

    I have not taken SERC, but I've taken all of the other usual suspects: Meclazine and Clonazepam for vertigo, and Glycopyrrolate or Zofran for the nausea and vomiting.  But none of these meds eliminated the vertigo...They simply made the episodes more bearable until they ran their course. I hate to use the word "cure", so I'll say that what has eliminated the vertigo for me, for some time now, has been a series of steroid injections into my inner ear.  It took 9 injections before it completely wiped them out, but it was well worth the wait.  I still have episodes of fullness in my ear, fluctuating tinnitus, and I have not regained hearing in my "Meniere's Ear".  I also have an occasional loss of balance/stumble, and perhaps a quick dizzy sensation now and then, but it  passes immediately, and I don't need medication for it.  These are NOTHING compared to that continuous vertigo with nausea and vomiting, that made me feel like I must be living in Hell.  My understanding is that I could possibly get many months of relief from the injections, or I might need to come back for more in a few months - everyone is different.  But I am so very grateful that my original ENT referred me to a University specialist, who performs these injections.  It changed my life.  

    I completely empathize with what you must be going through.  I have been as desperate as you are now.  The inner ear injections might be something to consider, and talk over with your doctor.  In the meantime, I wish you the best of luck with the SERC.  I do read that many people are very happy with it.  

    Take good care,

    J-

    • Pupper
      Pupper JMJ

      Posted

      Are you speaking of gentamicin injections?  If so, when did you get Meneire's and when did you start with the injections?  I'm glad it's helped you.  

    • JMJ
      JMJ Pupper

      Posted

      Thanks Pupper!  No.  Gentamycin injections would be the "next step up" if the steroids didn't work, as Gentamycin injections carry with them, additional potential side effects. However, I know people who go to my ENT who insist upon them, as they are the only thing that's worked for them.  

      What I received was Dexamethasone, a simple steroid, injected directly into the inner ear, every 4 weeks until relief.  Most patients begin to show results after 4 injections.  It took me longer, but I was wiling to wait.  And I'm grateful that I did.  

      I hope this answered your question.

      Take good care!

      J

       

  • Pupper
    Pupper paul757

    Posted

    I am just starting my Serc today.  My shunt surgery may not be working so well. Good luck to both of us.  I'll let you know how the Serc helps in this post you started, and hope you do the same.

  • Brookiana
    Brookiana paul757

    Posted

    hi Paul!

    I have been taking 16mg of serc three times a day for about 5 months now. It did not seem to have any effect on me for a few weeks apart from giving me stomach cramps and painful bloating. but now I can honestly say that the fullness of my ears (both of them suffer) has more or less gone. My right ear still plays up a bit (going full, tinnitus going a very high pitched noise and then receding gradually and feeling less full) but that's about it. The dizziness is still very much present but I have had no full blown vertigo attack. But then again, I am nowhere near as bad as some people are on here, I consider myself a "lucky" Meniere's sufferer so far (touch wood, fingers crossed etc.).

    My gut seems to have got used to it now too, thank god.

    I don't think it stops attacks but in my case it has relieved the fullness sensation a lot.

    Good luck with it all!

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