Betahistine is a medicine used to treat the symptoms of Ménière's disease.
These symptoms include:
- feeling dizzy and a spinning sensation (vertigo)
- ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- loss of hearing
- feeling sick (nausea)
The full name of this medicine is betahistine dihydrochloride.
It's thought to work by reducing build-up of fluid in the inner ear. This helps to reduce how often you get Ménière's disease symptoms and to make them milder.
It comes as tablets and is available on prescription only.
Key facts
- You'll usually take betahistine 3 times a day, leaving 6 to 8 hours between doses.
- When you start taking betahistine it may take a couple of weeks before you notice any improvements.
- Common side effects include headache, feeling sick or indigestion. They're usually mild and do not last long.
- It's best to take your tablets with or after food. This way it's less likely to upset your stomach.