Betahistine. Reviews of patients who took the drug, instructions for use, analogues, price

Development of more than 80 pathologies accompanied by dizziness, in which a person has an erroneous sensation of movement. To eliminate the symptom, Betahistine is used. According to the reviews of patients who took the drug, their treatment provides a positive effect.

Forms of release and composition of the drug Betagistin

The drug is produced in tablet form (8, 16, 24 mg each) and in the form of drops (100 ml contains 1.25 g of the drug, in a bottle - 30 ml).

In addition to the active substance, the preparation contains the following auxiliary components:

• magnesium stearate - a binder (antiadhesive) substance;
• colloidal silicon dioxide (aerosil) - gives the tablets a sliding property;
• microcrystalline cellulose - allows you to compress the drug mixture;
• lactose - improves the flowability of the tablet mass;
• crospovidone - promotes better dissolution of tablets.

Additional ingredients are absolutely harmless:

• do not suppress the activity of the brain;
• do not affect the speed of reactions;
• do not cause drowsiness.

  

Currently, pharmacists are working on the development of a long-acting Betahistine drug. Scientists propose to release a tablet form at a dosage of 48 mg with the release of the active substance within 12 hours.

This will reduce the frequency of taking the medication. With a long course of treatment, this approach will protect patients from side effects.

Pharmacological properties

Betahistine acts on the enzyme diamine oxidase, which delays the course of physicochemical processes by reducing the activity of histamine, stabilizes the production of this hormone, has a histamine-like action.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Pharmacodynamics

The drug enhances the H1 receptors of the vessels of the inner ear, and at the same time weakens the H3 receptors of the vestibular nuclei of the central nervous system.

Such a coordinated impact leads to:

• improvement of microcirculation and penetration of necessary substances into the capillaries;
• normalization of endolymph pressure in the labyrinth and cochlea;
• increased blood flow in the basilar artery;
• increased conductivity in the neurons of the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem.

This affects the patient's well-being:

• instability of coordination manifests itself less often and less intense;
• noisy sensations in the ears are reduced;
• hearing capabilities increase.

Pharmacokinetics

When ingested, the drug dissolves easily in water. Betahistine hydrochloride is immediately released and absorbed in all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. This process is slowed down if the pills are swallowed with food, but the effectiveness does not change.

The maximum substance accumulates in 3 hours. Under the influence of metabolic reactions, Betahistine decomposes, and 2-peridylacetic acid is formed, which leaves the body with urine in 24 hours.

Indications for use

Betahistine is an artificial substance similar to histamine. In 1970 it was registered in Europe for the treatment of Meniere's disease (inner ear disease).

He is characterized by the following symptoms:

• attacks of deafness (each subsequent manifestation aggravates hearing problems);
• noise in ears;
• dizziness;
• imbalance;
• disorders of a vegetative nature.

Betahistine (reviews of patients who took the drug confirm its effectiveness) is also prescribed when diagnosed:

• vestibular neuritis;
• labyrinthitis;
• weakening the flow of blood in the arteries;
• the development of encephalopathy after severe injury;
• atherosclerosis.

The drug expands the source of blood vessels in the inner ear, improves blood flow.

Contraindications

Betahistine treatment is contraindicated in:

• pheochromocytoma (a tumor of chromaffin cells in the adrenal glands);
• exacerbation of ulcerative lesions of the stomach and duodenum;
• carrying a child (possibly if urgently needed);
• breastfeeding;
• bronchial asthma;
• allergic reactions to the components of the drug;
• lactose immunity;
• lack of lactose or galactose malabsorption.

At what age can the drug be used?

Betahistine is not prescribed to patients under the age of 18. The remedy has not been studied enough. There is no evidence that the use of this medication is safe or effective for children.

Instructions for use, dosage of the drug

When treating Betahistine, patients need to tune in to a long-term intake of the drug, but a decrease in the manifestation of symptoms occurs already at the beginning of therapy. The best results are felt after 2-3 months. To avoid deterioration or loss of hearing, it is necessary to start taking the medication as early as possible.

The treatment regimens are as follows:

• 8 mg - 1-2 tab. three times a day;
• 16 mg - ½-1 tab. 3 times;
• 24 mg - 1 tab. for 2 doses.

The dosage is selected by the doctor, who takes into account the disease and condition of the patient. Do not exceed 48 mg of the drug per day.

With dizziness

During vertigo, a person feels a movement that does not actually occur (false). This symptom occurs due to abnormalities in the inner ear. It is this organ that is responsible for the balance in the body. The use of Betahistine helps to cope with dizziness of any origin (peripheral, central).

As a result:

• microcirculation is improving in the basilar basin;
• the movement of the endolymph in the inner ear is restored;
• the function of nerve cells is activated;
• interneuronal conductivity improves.

The tactics of treatment involves taking Betahistine three times (8 and 16 mg each) or twice (24 mg each) a day, which continues until a positive result is achieved.

With hearing loss

A decrease in auditory perception, which appears due to the defeat of any part of the sound-perceiving part of the auditory analyzer, is called hearing loss.

The cause of the pathology is factors such as:

• diseases of the middle ear of an acute and chronic nature;
• acute infectious lesions;
• the use of drugs that affect hearing;
• strong emotional shock;
• work involving noise and vibrations.

If the hearing loss is not treated, the process begins to progress. The end result is hearing loss.

To suspend the development of pathology, the following steps are used:

• exclude provoking factors;
• use drugs that restore microcirculation in the inner ear;
• start treatment as early as possible.

Betahistine is prescribed for a period of at least 3 months. The frequency of administration depends on the dose of the drug: 8 and 16 mg 3 times a day, 24 mg - 2 doses.

Noise in the ear

Noise in the ear is one of the symptoms characteristic of the development of hearing loss. It is a manifestation of pathological changes in any part of the auditory analyzer. Therefore, taking Betahistine according to the regimen prescribed for the treatment of hearing problems, the patient simultaneously solves two problems. It is important to start treatment at the initial stage of the disease.

With cervical osteochondrosis

The cause of dizziness in cervical osteochondrosis is a violation of blood flow in the vertebrobasilar basin, which is formed from the arteries of the spine. It supplies blood to the back of the brain. This condition can also occur in young patients.

Betagistin changes the situation for the better. As a result of treatment, vestibular compensation occurs. Usually, the doctor uses this appointment: take 24 mg of the drug twice a day for 3 months.

With a headache

With chronic cerebral circulation insufficiency (CCF), diseases develop in the vestibular regions, the main symptoms of which are soreness in the head and loss of balance:

• vegetative-vascular paroxysms;
• vascular disorders (hypertension);
• atherosclerosis.

In patients with chronic cerebrovascular accident, a gradual aggravation of the condition occurs (from the first to the fourth stage).

During treatment, the following remedies are prescribed:

• hypotensive;
• anti-sclerotic;
• improving cerebral blood flow;
• normalizing blood flow.

Betahistine has a complex effect, as a result of which the blood supply to the brain improves, blood flow in the inner ear is increased. Prescription of the drug: 24-48 mg per day in 2-3 doses until a positive result is obtained.

Side effects

Betahistine (reviews of patients who took the drug indicate its good tolerance) in rare cases has a negative effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

This is expressed by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• discomfort in the upper abdomen;
• violation of the stool;
• the formation of gases.

Unpleasant sensations do not arise if you take Betahistine with food.

Patients with sensitive skin may:

• rashes;
• itchy sensations;
• pale pink blisters (urticaria).

With individual intolerance to any component of the drug, mucosal edema may begin.

Overdose

In clinical studies on volunteers, several cases of overdose were identified after taking up to 640 mg of the drug per day.

The condition of the patients was of a mild or moderate form of severity, which was expressed by the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• desire to lie down and sleep;
• abdominal pain.

With the deliberate intake of higher doses of the drug, there are:

• convulsions;
• heart problems;
• pulmonary complications.

To get rid of intoxication, they act as follows:

• wash the stomach;
• prescribe sorbents (activated carbon, Enterosgel);
• use vitamins;
• restore microflora (preparations with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, yogurt);
• cleanses the liver and kidneys.

special instructions

Betahistine (reviews of patients who took the drug warn about possible complications) is not well understood, so taking the pills passes under the supervision of a physician in such cases:

• during gestation - treatment is possible if the potential threat to the mother outweighs the harm to the child;
• during breastfeeding - it is not known whether the active substance enters the mother's milk or not;
• in the presence of a gastrointestinal ulcer in the history of the disease.

Betahistine does not cause a hypnotic effect, therefore it does not affect driving or other mechanisms. During therapy, it is necessary to refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages in order to avoid unforeseen reactions of an individual nature.

No dose adjustment of the drug is required:

• elderly patients;
• with renal failure;
• with liver problems.

Drug interactions

Betahistine (reviews of patients who took the drug warn of compliance with safety measures) not prescribed in parallel with the following drugs:

• antiallergic - reduce the effectiveness of Betahistine or an antihistamine;
• antidepressants - prevent the release of the active substance;
• Hydroxyzine and Selegiline - inhibit betahistine metabolism.

Analogs

The following drugs also include betahistine hydrochloride:

Drug name	The country of manufacture	price, rub.
Vertrand	Croatia	267
Betaserc	USA	415
Vestibo	Germany	161
Tagista	Serbia	89
Betaver	Russia	239
Westikap	Russia	319

The action of these drugs is similar to Betahistin. Patients have a choice between domestic and foreign drugs.

Terms, conditions of sale and storage

According to reviews of patients who took the drug, Betagistine is released in pharmacies only after a prescription is provided. This suggests that self-medication is unacceptable for diseases susceptible to the effects of Betahistine.

The instructions for the drug say that Betahistine must be stored in a dry place, protected from sun exposure. In the room, you need to maintain the air temperature from 18 to 25 degrees. At home, keep the tablets away from children and animals.

The drug remains valid for 2 years. Some manufacturers extend the term (from 3 to 5 years). It is unacceptable to use an expired medicine, even if the expiration date is insignificant.

Price in pharmacies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, regions

Today, pharmacies offer a large selection of Betahistin and its analogues.

The prices for the drug are very different, and are in direct proportion to:

• manufacturer;
• dosage of the drug;
• the number of pills in the package.

Patients have the opportunity to purchase a drug at a pharmacy located within walking distance, or order via the Internet. The second option is more profitable due to lower prices.

The availability of the drug can be found out and ordered at such online pharmacies in Moscow. Moscow:

• Eapteka-ru.
• Piluli-ru.
• Apteka-ru.
• Zdravciti-ru.
• Risnet-ru.

This tool is represented by the following pharmaceutical companies:

• Vertex;
• Canonpharm;
• North Star;
• Pranapharm;
• Medisorb;
• OZON LLC.

Manufacturers supply Betahistine in any dosage. The price ranges from 91 to 556 rubles.

The most affordable prices are offered by pharmacists Pranafarm and OZON LLC (from 56 to 156 rubles). And the Vertex company produces the most expensive versions of Betagistin, starting from 153 rubles.

In pharmacies in g. Petersburg, the prices for Betagistine of Russian production are slightly different:

• 8 mg, 30 tab. - from 13.80 to 89 rubles.
• 16 mg, 30 tab. - from 67 to 89 rubles.
• 24 mg, 20 tab. - from 61.70 to 77 rubles.
• 24 mg, 30 tab. - from 71 to 89 rubles.

The drug can be purchased at low prices at the following pharmacies:

• Pharmacy No. 186 - 2nd line, d. 51, Kingisepp.
• PetroApteka - Kamennoostrovsky pr., D. 42; DK im. Lensoveta, 2nd floor
• Sita-Farm - 8th Soviet, d. 41A.

The lowest prices for the drug in such pharmacies:

• Vita-Express - pr. Testers, d. 6, bldg. 1; st. Yesenin, d. 32, bldg. 1; etc. Novocherkassky, d. 43 / 17A.
• Pharmacy for the thrifty - Sredny pr., D. 46.
• Pharmacy on Marata - st. Marat, 41.
• Pharmacy on Marata - st. Marat, 41.
• Homeopathic pharmacy - Bolshoi prospect, P.S., d. 2.
• Care - Zagreb Blvd, d. 9.
• Rigla - Bolshoi Sampsonievsky pr., D. 55.
• Affordable pharmacy - Kosygin avenue, d. 27, bldg. 1.
• Pulse - pr. Moskovsky, d. 2/6.

Analysis of prices for Betagistin in various regions of Russia showed that they differ insignificantly even in cities remote from the capital.

In the pharmacies of Saratov, Rostov-on-Don, Nizhny Novgorod, Kemerovo, the drug is presented in all available dosages (8, 16, 24 mg). The prescription pills must be taken three times a day, packaged in 30 pieces. The tablets with the highest active ingredient content (24 mg) are available in quantities of 20, 30 and 60.

Prices for the drug fluctuate (in rubles):

• 8, 30 - from 71 to 116;
• 16, 30 - from 81.10 to 286;
• 24, 20 - from 71.90 to 336;
• 24, 30 - from 88 to 336;
• 24, 60 - from 163 to 603.

The therapeutic effect of taking Betahistine is achieved if the patient trusts the specialist and clearly follows the prescribed recommendations. Reviews of patients who took the drug fully confirm this.

Article design: Vladimir the Great

Video about Betahistin

When Betahistine is needed: