When vertigo occurs, what should you pay attention to when using betahistine and in what situations should it not be used?

A friend told Huazi that she had vertigo recently and felt dizzy and stuffy in her ears. Someone told her that she could try betahistine. She was not familiar with this drug, so she asked Huazi if she could use betahistine and what she should pay attention to when using it?

Huazi said that betahistine is a histamine analogue that can improve microcirculation and can be used to treat dizziness symptoms caused by various reasons. Overall, the adverse reactions are relatively mild and there are not many contraindications, so it is relatively safe to use.

1. Betahistine for the treatment of vertigo

Betahistine is a compound with a structure similar to histamine . It has a dilating effect on capillaries in the brain, heart, etc. It can also relax the precapillary sphincter of the inner ear and improve the blood supply to the inner ear; it increases the permeability of capillaries, promotes the absorption of extracellular fluid in the inner ear, and eliminates edema.

Betahistine has a strong effect on improving the inner ear function, so it is mainly used for vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss caused by Meniere's disease (also known as Meniere's disease), and is also used for vertigo and vascular headache caused by cerebral arteriosclerosis, transient cerebral ischemia, and hypertension. Because it can improve microcirculation, it can also be used to treat acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease, namely cerebral infarction.

2. What should I pay attention to when using betahistine?

When taking betahistine, you may experience dry mouth, palpitations, itchy skin, etc.; it can irritate the stomach, and you may experience stomach discomfort and nausea. Taking the medicine after meals can reduce the irritation ; some people may experience dizziness, headache, and sweating after taking the medicine. But in general, the adverse reactions of betahistine are mild, and generally there is no need to stop taking the medicine .

However, if allergic reactions occur, this drug should be discontinued . Betahistine can stimulate pheochromocytoma to secrete catecholamine hormones, causing abnormally high blood pressure, so it is contraindicated for people with pheochromocytoma . Betahistine can stimulate the histamine receptors of gastric parietal cells, increasing gastric acid secretion, so it is contraindicated for people with active peptic ulcers .

Because betahistine has histamine-like effects, it may aggravate the symptoms of diseases such as bronchial asthma, adrenal medullary tumor, peptic ulcer, and allergies. People with the above diseases should use it with caution.

Betahistine cannot be used in children ; pregnant women should only use the drug after the doctor determines that the benefits outweigh the risks; Betahistine is not recommended for breastfeeding women, if it is needed, breastfeeding should be suspended; the metabolic function of the elderly is reduced, so the dosage should be reduced as appropriate.

3. Differences in Betahistine Dosage Forms

Betahistine is available in various dosage forms including tablets, oral solution and injection. When using, you need to carefully read the drug instructions and the specifications and dosage on the drug packaging, and do not overdose .

In order to increase the stability of the drug, betahistine needs to be combined with acid radicals to form salts before being made into drugs. There are two commonly used ones, one is betahistine hydrochloride and the other is betahistine mesylate.

Compared with the two, betahistine mesylate is more stable and can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier to enter the central nervous system to exert its effects, and is mainly used to treat Meniere's disease. Betahistine hydrochloride, on the other hand, exerts its effects more in blood vessels and is more suitable for the treatment of vertigo and vascular headaches caused by cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral ischemia, hypertension and other reasons.

In summary, betahistine can improve microcirculation and is mainly used to treat Meniere's disease. It can also treat vertigo caused by various diseases. According to relevant information, the number of reports of adverse reactions caused by betahistine worldwide is only 1 in 100,000, which has good safety. As long as there are no allergic reactions and contraindications, it can be used safely. The drug must be used under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any doubts about the use of the drug, consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.