Betahistine

Key facts

• Betahistine is a histamine-like medicine that reduces the vertigo, ringing in the ears and pressure of Meniere's disease by improving blood flow in the inner ear.
• It is taken as tablets two to three times a day with food; several weeks of regular use are usually needed to reduce how often vertigo attacks occur.
• It can worsen asthma or trigger bronchospasm, and it can aggravate an active stomach ulcer, so both conditions need caution or specialist advice before you start.
• Seek urgent care for severe wheeze or breathing difficulty, or stomach pain with vomiting blood or black stools.

What betahistine treats

Betahistine treats Meniere's disease, the recurring vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss caused by pressure in the inner ear, and vertigo of inner-ear origin more generally. It is not a general remedy for motion sickness or for dizziness caused by other neurological conditions.

How betahistine works

Betahistine acts on histamine receptors in the inner ear and brainstem, widening small blood vessels to improve blood flow and reduce the fluid pressure that triggers vertigo. It also helps recalibrate the balance signals the inner ear sends to the brain, easing the spinning sensation.

Before you take it

• Avoid, or use only under specialist guidance, if you have asthma or a history of peptic ulcer disease.
• Tell your prescriber if you have a rare adrenal tumour called phaeochromocytoma, or an allergy to histamine-related compounds.
• Other antihistamines can reduce betahistine's effectiveness, so check with a pharmacist before combining them.

Side effects

Common effects include mild nausea, indigestion, headache, and an occasional rash.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

• Severe stomach pain, or vomiting blood or passing black stools.
• Difficulty breathing or severe wheeze.
• A fast or irregular heartbeat, or swelling of the face or throat.

Safety essentials

• Asthma and peptic ulcer disease are the key cautions: betahistine can worsen bronchospasm in people with asthma and aggravate ulcer symptoms, so tell your prescriber before starting if you have either condition.
• Take it with food to reduce stomach upset.
• Report any new wheeze, breathing difficulty, or worsening stomach pain promptly, since these may mean the medicine needs to be stopped.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.