Indications - Meniere's disease and Meniere-like syndromes are characterized by attacks of vertigo, tinnitus and/or progressive loss of hearing, usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Dosage & Administration - The usual initial dose: 8 mg to 16 mg three times daily taken preferably with meals. Maintenance dose: Up to 48 mg daily has been recommended. Betahistine is not recommended for use in children.
Side Effects - Betahistine is generally well tolerated and there is no known serious adverse effects. In some circumstances gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, rashes and pruritus have been reported.
Contraindications - Betahistine is contraindicated in pheochromocytoma.
Others - Pregnancy & Lactation In Pregnancy: The safety of Betahistine in human pregnancy has not been completely established, although there is no known teratogenic effect in animals. A careful assessment of potential benefits should be made before prescribing Betahistine in pregnancy. In Lactation: Betahistine is excreted in the breast milk of nursing mothers in concentrations similar to those found in plasma. Toxicity to the neonate at these concentrations is not known.