Side Effects:

Common Headache, Nausea, Dyspepsia.

Expert advice for Betahist Forte Tablet
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte useful for the treatment of a migraine associated vertigo?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte for the treatment of benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?
Use of Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with paracetamol?
Betahist forte can be taken with paracetamol. There are no reported drug drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

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

Q. Is Betahist forte good for dizziness?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with propranolol?
Betahist forte and propranolol can be taken together. Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte make you sleepy?
Betahist forte does not make you sleepy. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

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

Q. Can I take Betahist forte with prochlorperazine?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte cause an increase in blood pressure?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte 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. Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte?
Do not stop taking Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte up to 6 months or more for the right effect to come.

Q. Can I use Betahist forte for motion sickness?
No, Betahist forte 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. Betahist forte is used for decreasing the episodes of recurrent vertigo (spinning sensation) associated with Ménière’s disease (an ear disease).

Q. Is Betahist forte useful in the treatment of anxiety?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte be useful for treating an ear infection?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with antibiotics?
Betahist forte and antibiotics can be taken together. No harmful side effects or any other clinical interactions have been seen when Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte an antihistamine?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with antihistamine medicines?
Betahist forte should not be taken with antihistamine medicines like dimenhydrinate as Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with ibuprofen?
Betahist forte can be taken with ibuprofen. There are no reported drug-drug interactions or harmful effects when they are used together.

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

Q. Is Betahist forte safe?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with vitamin D?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with cetirizine?
Betahist forte should not be taken with cetirizine as it has antihistamine action and Betahist forte has histamine like action and using the two medicines together may lower the efficacy of either of them.

Q. Can I use Betahist forte for nausea?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte be useful for treating labyrinthitis?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte start working?
The maximum level of Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte make you lose weight?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte, consult your doctor as it may be due to an underlying condition that needs attention.

Q. Does Betahist forte cause headache?
Yes, headache is a commonly reported side effect of Betahist forte. 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 Betahist forte may need a dose adjustment.

Q. Can I take Betahist forte with warfarin?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte a steroid?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with amitriptyline?
Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte cause drowsiness?
Betahist forte has not been reported to cause drowsiness. Common side effects seen with its use are a headache, nausea, and dyspepsia.

Q. Is Betahist forte a beta blocker?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte a diuretic?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte a blood thinner?
No, Betahist forte 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 Betahist forte with propranolol?
Betahist forte 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.