Table of contents:
- Use
- What is the function of betahistine?
- How to use betahistine?
- How to store this drug?
- Dose
- What is the dose of betahistine for adults?
- What is the dose of betahistine for children?
- In what dosage is this drug available?
- Side effects
- What side effects can be experienced due to betahistine?
- Precautions & Warnings
- What should be known before using betahistine?
- Talk to your doctor about your condition and medical history
- Avoid activities that require high concentration
- Is betahistine safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Interaction
- What other medicines may interact with betahistine?
- Can food or alcohol interact with betahistine?
- What health conditions can interact with betahistine?
- Overdose
- What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
Use
What is the function of betahistine?
Betahistine, or betahistine mesylate, is a histamine analogue drug. Primarily, betahistine is used to treat various symptoms of Ménière's disease which include:
- Dizziness related to vertigo
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Hearing loss or difficulty hearing
This medication works by increasing blood flow in the inner ear area. The increased blood flow will reduce the pressure in the ear, thereby reducing any symptoms you feel.
Betahistine is a drug that you can only get as recommended by your doctor or is a prescription drug, so you cannot buy it at a pharmacy without your doctor's knowledge and advice.
How to use betahistine?
Always take betahistine mesylate medication as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Follow all directions listed on the medicine packaging. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if there is information that you do not understand on the drug packaging.
Your doctor will adjust the dose according to your condition, especially after using this medicine. Your doctor's reaction to treatment using betahistine mesylate will also be a consideration for your doctor about the dosage prescribed for you.
Do not stop using this drug without the advice and knowledge of your doctor, because this drug may take a while to provide maximum benefits to the body.
The rules for taking this medicine are:
- Take this medicine with a glass of mineral water.
- This medicine can also be taken on an empty stomach or after a meal.
- However, at certain times, this medicine should be taken after eating because it can trigger mild digestive disorders.
Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you are unsure and have questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How to store this drug?
This medication is best stored at room temperature and away from direct light and damp areas. Do not store this drug in the bathroom and do not freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules.
Pay attention to the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist if there is information you do not understand on the package. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed otherwise by the doctor or pharmacist. Do not store drugs that are past the expiration date.
Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal agency about how to safely dispose of your medication, including betahistine.
Dose
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the dose of betahistine for adults?
The dose of this medicine for adults is 24-48 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor will adjust it according to your needs.
Take 1-2 tablets of 8 mg, which you can take three times a day or take one 16 mg tablet three times a day. If you take more than one tablet per day, separate the doses of the medication you want to take.
Try to use this medication at the same time each day to make it easier for you to remember when you should take this medicine and also to ensure that you provide appropriate breaks between the times you take each medication.
What is the dose of betahistine for children?
The drug betahistine mesylate is not recommended for children younger than 18 years. Consult your doctor about the use of betahistine in children. Use this medication only as directed by your doctor.
In what dosage is this drug available?
Betahistine or betahistine mesylate is available in tablet form with different dosages, including:
- Betahistine 8 mg tablet: White to dark white tablet around, flat uncoated with an 'X' on one side and '87' on the other.
- Betahistine 16 mg tablets: Surrounded white to dark white tablets without coating have one row mark "X" and on one side and "88" on the other. These tablets can be divided into equal doses.
- Betahistine 24 mg tablets: White to dark white surrounding uncoated tablets with one row of 'X' marks and on one side and '89' on the other. These tablets can be divided into equal doses.
Betahistine tablets are available in Blister packs of Polyamide / Aluminum / PVC:
- 8 mg tablets: 10, 20, 50, 60, 84, 100 and 120 pieces
- 16 mg tablets: 10, 20, 30, 60 and 84 pieces
- 24 mg tablets: 10, 20 and 60 pieces
Round frosted white HDPE bottle with polypropylene lid containing coil cotton: 30 and 1000 tablets.
Side effects
What side effects can be experienced due to betahistine?
Like all other medicines, betahistine mesylate can cause side effects, although not everyone who takes betahistine will experience it.
In fact, only a handful of people are known to experience side effects from betahistine. Even though it looks mild, you should immediately report it to your doctor if you experience some of the following conditions:
- Allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or neck.
- Drastic drop in blood pressure
- Loss of self-awareness
- Difficulty breathing
If you experience side effects as mentioned above, you should stop using betahistine medications. However, there are also side effects that are common and harmless, such as:
- Dizzy
- Difficult to digest food
- Nausea and want to vomit
There are several conditions that may also occur if you use betahistine, such as:
- Stomach ache
- Swelling of the stomach
- Bloated
You can avoid problems or symptoms of these side effects by taking this drug with food, because food can reduce stomach pain.
Not everyone experiences the side effects mentioned above. There may be some side effects not listed above.
If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Precautions & Warnings
What should be known before using betahistine?
There are several things you should do and know before using betahistine mesylate, which are as follows:
Talk to your doctor about your condition and medical history
Tell your doctor if you have health problems such as:
- Asthma or bronchitis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Allergic rhinitis
The reason is, this drug could worsen the condition or interact with betahistine.
Avoid activities that require high concentration
Drinking betahistine mesylate may not interfere with your concentration while driving a motor vehicle or running machinery.
However, Ménière's disease can cause you to feel nauseous and vomit and affect your ability to drive a vehicle or operate machinery. Avoid these activities if you are on medication.
If you suffer from any of the conditions above, consult your doctor about using betahistine tablets. The use of betahistine for children should be monitored by a doctor during treatment. betahistine is not recommended for children under 18 years of age.
Is betahistine safe for pregnant and lactating women?
Do not use the drug betahistine mesylate if you are pregnant unless your doctor has decided that this therapy is absolutely necessary. Ask your doctor for advice.
Do not breastfeed while using betahistine dihydrochloride tablets unless instructed by your doctor. It is not known whether betahistine can be released from breast milk (ASI) and taken by a nursing infant or not.
Make sure all the use of medicines while pregnant and breastfeeding you have consulted your doctor first.
Do not decide anything if you are still unsure about the risks of using this or other drugs as this could harm both you and your baby.
Interaction
What other medicines may interact with betahistine?
Drug interactions that occur between one drug and another can change the performance of the drug or actually increase the risk of serious side effects from drugs. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this article.
Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval.
Make sure that you always tell your doctor all the medicines you use, especially if you are taking any of the following:
- Antihistamines. This is because in theory, betahistine mesylate may not work properly. In addition, betahistine may decrease the effect of antihistamines if interactions occur.
- Monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). This drug is used to treat depression or Parkinson's disease. This medication may also increase the side effects of betahistine.
If you have ever used any of the above medicines (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using betahistine.
Can food or alcohol interact with betahistine?
Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Smoking or consuming alcohol with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur.
Avoid using alcohol and tobacco if you are having treatment with this medicine. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider and make sure you are aware of the effects that will occur if you use this medicine.
What health conditions can interact with betahistine?
The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems.
To avoid more serious health problems, consult your doctor first if you have other health problems, because other health conditions you have may interact with this drug.
Overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the emergency room at the nearest hospital.
Overdose symptoms that may occur with too much use of betahistine are:
- gag
- dyspepsia
- ataxia
- seizures
- heart complications
The above-mentioned overdose symptoms may occur if you take this drug at an inappropriate dose or if betahistine interacts with other drugs in your body.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of betahistine, take the missed dose immediately. However, if the time you are about to take your medication is near the time to use your next dose, forget about the missed dose and keep taking your medication according to your usual schedule. Do not force yourself to double the dose because excessive doses can endanger your health condition.
Do not stop using this drug until your doctor allows you to stop using this drug. Even if you feel your condition is getting better, your doctor may still want you to use this drug for a period of time. This is generally done to ensure that the medication is working well and that your condition has actually improved.
If there are things that make you confused, make sure you always consult your doctor or pharmacist so that you will not take the wrong step in using this drug.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
