Side Effects:

Common Headache, Nausea, Dyspepsia.

Expert advice for Betahistine
Betahistine can only decrease the number and severity of attacks of vertigo (dizziness), hearing loss and tinnitus (noise in the ear), it will not completely stop them. You may need to take Betahistine for 6-12 months to see if it helps to relieve your symptoms. If it helps, then you can continue to use it. Do not take Betahistine if you have a history of hypersensitivity to betahistine or you have pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor of adrenal glands. Take special care and inform your doctor if you have


History of porphyria
Peptic ulcer 
Asthma
Low blood pressure
Hereditary problem of intolerance to some sugars
History of allergic reactions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is Betahistine useful for the treatment of a migraine associated vertigo?
Betahistine is seen to be useful in the treatment of vertigo associated with a migraine in some clinical studies. However, this is not an approved use and it should be taken only when advised by a doctor. It is indicated for the treatment of vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss associated with ménière's syndrome.

Q. Can I use Betahistine for the treatment of benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?
Use of Betahistine is seen to provide long-term relief and good clinical outcomes in patients with paroxysmal positional vertigo when used along with physical maneuver. It is also seen to be beneficial in patients who are unfit or are unable to do the physical maneuvers.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with paracetamol?
Betahistine can be taken with paracetamol. There are no reported drug drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Is Betahistine addictive?
No, addictive potential has not been reported with Betahistine. It shows no withdrawal symptoms when you stop using this medicine.

Q. Is Betahistine good for dizziness?
Betahistine is not indicated for the treatment of dizziness. It is caused by breathing too heavily (hyperventilation) or anxiety. Many a times patient confuse dizziness with vertigo (spinning sensation). It is only indicated for the relief of vertigo, tinnitus (ringing sensation in the ear) and hearing loss associated with Meniere's disease.

Q. Is it safe to take Betahistine with propranolol?
Betahistine and propranolol can be taken together. Betahistine is given in patients with a migraine for the relief of vertigo and propranolol is indicated for preventing the attacks of a migraine. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when the two drugs are used together.

Q. Does Betahistine make you sleepy?
Betahistine does not make you sleepy. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Is Betahistine available over the counter?
No, Betahistine is not an over the counter medicine. It is available with doctor's prescription only.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with prochlorperazine?
Betahistine and prochlorperazine can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when the two drugs are taken together.

Q. Can Betahistine cause an increase in blood pressure?
Betahistine has not shown to cause an increase in blood pressure. Rather, it can cause a small fall in blood pressure due to its property to dilate blood vessels. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Why is the use of Betahistine contraindicated in patients with pheochromocytoma?
Pheochromocytoma is an adrenal gland tumor and it causes excessive release of hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine that control heart rate, metabolism, and blood pressure. Betahistine may provoke the release of hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine from the site of this tumor and cause a hypertensive crisis which can be life threatening.

Q. When should I stop taking Betahistine?
Do not stop taking Betahistine until you are asked by your doctor to do so. Keep taking it for as long as your doctor has asked you to. You may need to take Betahistine up to 6 months or more for the right effect to come.

Q. Can I use Betahistine for motion sickness?
No, Betahistine is not indicated for the treatment of motion sickness as the present clinical data has not proven its efficacy. Motion sickness is a feeling of nausea and lightheadedness when you travel by train, car or by plane. Betahistine is used for decreasing the episodes of recurrent vertigo (spinning sensation) associated with Ménière’s disease (an ear disease).

Q. Is Betahistine useful in the treatment of anxiety?
No, Betahistine is not indicated for the treatment of anxiety. It is a histamine analog indicated for decreasing the episodes of recurrent vertigo (spinning sensation) associated with Ménière’s disease (an ear disease).

Q. Would Betahistine be useful for treating an ear infection?
No, Betahistine is not indicated for the treatment of ear infection as it has no antibiotic action. It is a histamine analog indicated for decreasing the episodes of recurrent vertigo (spinning sensation) associated with Ménière’s disease (an ear disease).

Q. Can I take Betahistine with antibiotics?
Betahistine and antibiotics can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when Betahistine is taken with antibiotics. However, interactions may exist as there is a large number of Flunarizine with different actions and they can have different effects. So, talk to your doctor before using them together.

Q. Is Betahistine an antihistamine?
No, Betahistine is not an antihistamine. It has a histamine-like action which helps in improving blood flow in the inner ear and decreasing vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss, and nausea.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with antihistamine medicines?
Betahistine should not be taken with antihistamine medicines like dimenhydrinate as Betahistine has histamine like action. Using the two medicines together which have opposite actions may actually lower the efficacy of both the medicines.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with ibuprofen?
Betahistine can be taken with ibuprofen. There are no reported drug-drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

Q. Does Betahistine cause weight gain?
Use of Betahistine has not shown to cause weight gain. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Is Betahistine safe?
Betahistine is safe if used for a prescribed duration in doses as prescribed by your doctor. However, there are some very common side effects that you can experience at effective doses with its use like headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with vitamin D?
Betahistine and vitamin D can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when the two drugs are taken together.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with cetirizine?
Betahistine should not be taken with cetirizine as it has antihistamine action and Betahistine has histamine like action and using the two medicines together may lower the efficacy of either of them.

Q. Can I use Betahistine for nausea?
Betahistine is useful in the treatment of nausea and vertigo associated with an underlying ear disease like Meniere's disease. It is also seen to be useful in vertigo associated with a migraine.

Q. Would Betahistine be useful for treating labyrinthitis?
Betahistine does not treat labyrinthitis, however, it is useful in relieving the symptoms associated with labyrinthitis which includes dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, and vertigo.

Q. When does Betahistine start working?
The maximum level of Betahistine is achieved within one hour of oral intake. However, you would start to feel relief in your symptoms in less time.

Q. Can use of Betahistine make you lose weight?
Betahistine has not shown to cause any weight loss. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia. In case you experience any abnormal weight loss while taking Betahistine, consult your doctor as it may be due to an underlying condition that needs attention.

Q. Does Betahistine cause headache?
Yes, headache is a commonly reported side effect of Betahistine. You can take a painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen for the relief of your headache. However, if it is very severe and is not controlled by a painkiller, consult your doctor as Betahistine may need a dose adjustment.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with warfarin?
Betahistine and warfarin can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when the two drugs are taken together.

Q. Is Betahistine a steroid?
No, Betahistine is not a steroid. It is a histamine analog used to treat vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss associated with Ménière's syndrome

Q. Can I take Betahistine with amitriptyline?
Betahistine has not been clinically studied when used along with amitriptyline. So there are no reports of any drug-drug interactions or harmful effects when these are used together.

Q. Does Betahistine cause drowsiness?
Betahistine has not been reported to cause drowsiness. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Is Betahistine a beta blocker?
No, Betahistine is not a beta blocker. It is a histamine analog used to treat vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss associated with Ménière's syndrome. It can cause a small fall in blood pressure due to its property to dilate blood vessels.

Q. Is Betahistine a diuretic?
No, Betahistine is not a diuretic. It is a histamine analog used to treat vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss associated with Ménière's syndrome. A diuretic is a medicine, which removes excess water and electrolytes from the body through urine.

Q. Is Betahistine a blood thinner?
No, Betahistine is not a blood thinner. It is a histamine analog used to treat vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss associated with Ménière's syndrome.

Q. Can I take Betahistine with propranolol?
Betahistine and propranolol can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when the two drugs are taken together.