Betahistine side effects

I've been taking betahistine for years and I am currently on 32mg three times a day. Never had any side affects aside from losing my appetite and falling out of love with food (haven't had cravings in years). I think most side effects wear off after the medication is fully in your system. In my experience dose changes take about 3 months to work.

I am currently in remission but I have taken doses as high as 64mg tds. always with a meal or snack and have only had occasional mild discomfort. It is worth taking the occasional dose of omeprazole as that settles things down nicely especially if you take other meds with potential for gastric irritation.

As others have mentioned Betahistine takes a month or more to become fully effective and you may need a higher dose to achieve complete control - stay on that higher dose for at least 5 to 6 months without attacks before gradually weaning off. If problems return go back to previous highest dose and repeat the above routine. My consultant has said if needed I may go to an even higher dose!

Prochlorperazine is a sedative anti-emetic and anti-psychotic drug which I only reach for if having an acute episode. One or two 3mg buccal tablets placed inside the top lip help to stop severe nausea but its not a good idea to stay on this drug once things have calmed down because it makes you drowsy and spaced out and does nothing for the underlying cause of Menieres whereas Betahistine does as it it increases the blood flow to the inner ear so that the pressure control mechanisms can function properly.

Persevere and good luck.

You will almost certainly need a supportive Consultant to recommend a higher dose regime. The max dose mentioned in your leaflet is regarded as little better than a placebo by my consultant.

To save a lot of typing I have copied a post I put up some time ago which you may find helpful:-

"My consultant, having confirmed the diagnosis, and noting that I was not fully controlled tripled my dose from 16mg to 48 mg three times daily, and told me if I remained attack free for 6 months I should then wean myself off. That strategy worked and I had a full remission period of 21 months.

His advice was also that if the warning signs of MD returning (Ear fullness, unstable tinnitus, dizzy spells) occurred to not wait for a full blown attack but go straight back on the high dose and increase it further if necessary. The reasoning for this is that each major attack is very likely to cause further hearing loss which is not reversible.

I got the warning signs again at the end of July so did as advised. The signs subsided over 2 or 3 days which was good but about 6 weeks later I had a sudden vertigo attack for a couple of minutes which left me feeling unsteady and unwell. I always carry buccastem and took one straight away – fortunately that worked OK. As a result I have increased my dosage to 64mg tds while I wait for a review with the consultant.

This seems to be working OK.

Suggest you ask your consultant to review your dosage. Good luck."

I know I am fortunate in having an excellent consultant and good GP to rely on - sadly not everyones experience.

I don't think I can say much more but if not done already you should ask about an MRI scan to exclude other possible inner ear conditions. Based on my and others experience you need to be on a significantly higher betahistine dose as your current regime is not controlling or reducing your symptoms.

Fingers crossed you get the support you need.

I am sorry to hear that. Prochlorperazine will damp down your acute symptoms but do nothing to protect your hearing damage which will likely deteriorate more if you continue to have attacks. If you have some betahistine left I would continue to take them. I fear you will have to wait up to 3 months for an ENT appointment! That was my experience during which hearing loss and tinnitus got worse.