Betahistine
Betahistine is a histamine-like tablet that eases the vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss of Ménière's disease; the shop lists it as Serc in 8mg, 16mg and 24mg.
What Ménière's disease is, and what betahistine does about it
The room lurches, one ear starts ringing, hearing goes muffled and you feel sick. That cluster is Ménière's disease, caused by fluid and pressure shifting in the inner ear. Betahistine, a chemical relative of histamine, is believed to improve blood flow there and ease the pressure.
It is a preventive. Taken regularly it makes episodes rarer and milder, but it will not end one halfway through. A couple of weeks may pass before anything changes, and the best results sometimes take months.
Betahistine tablets and the Serc listing
Serc is how the shop sells betahistine: 8mg, 16mg and 24mg tablets, the figure being the dihydrochloride salt. Three doses a day, with or after meals and six to eight hours apart, is the usual spread, so a bigger tablet means fewer per dose. The Serc page has strengths and packs.
It is aimed at the labyrinth, the inner-ear organ that senses balance, so it suits vertigo that starts there and is no catch-all dizziness or travel-sickness remedy.
Who should be careful with betahistine
A history of stomach ulcers, asthma or low blood pressure calls for care. A phaeochromocytoma, a rare tumour of the adrenal gland, rules it out. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are not normal uses, since the evidence is thin.
Antihistamine tablets for allergies run against it, and MAOI antidepressants are best avoided alongside it. Side effects such as nausea, indigestion and headache are usually modest, and taking the tablet after food helps. A swollen tongue or throat, an itchy raised rash or trouble breathing means an allergic reaction and needs urgent treatment. Meals, drinks and driving need no changes: betahistine does not normally affect any of them.
Using it over the long haul
Take it on schedule, not only on dizzy days; the benefit builds from steady use. Dry, room-temperature storage is all the tablets need.
Sources
- Betahistine: medicine for meniere's disease - NHS — UK National Health Service
- Medications for Dizziness & Vertigo - Vestibular Disorders Association — vestibular.org
Can I order Betahistine online in Hong Kong?
Betahistine can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Serc, also sold as plain Betahistine tablets, in 8mg, 16mg and 24mg. A parcel that does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, is sent again free, and the order is refunded if that is not possible.
What is the price of Betahistine?
Prices vary between pack sizes. The product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Betahistine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order betahistine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for betahistine?
Betaserc and Serc are brand names of betahistine, which is also sold as Betavert and Vertin. Here, betahistine can be bought online as generic Serc. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is betahistine an antihistamine?
No. It is closer to the opposite: it mimics histamine at certain receptors in the inner ear and brain. Ordinary antihistamines block histamine, which is why they can cancel out its effect.
Is betahistine for tinnitus or only for vertigo?
It is meant for Ménière's disease, where tinnitus is one of several symptoms alongside vertigo, hearing loss and nausea. It is not a treatment aimed at ringing in the ears that occurs on its own.
What is betahistine dihydrochloride?
It is the form of betahistine used in the tablets: the dihydrochloride salt keeps the medicine stable. Pack strengths such as 8mg, 16mg and 24mg refer to betahistine dihydrochloride.
How long should betahistine be taken for?
Plan on weeks to see a change and months for the full result, since it works as a preventive. Short bursts around an attack do little compared with a steady, regular course.