Side Effects:

Common Headache, Nausea, Dyspepsia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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