I heard that if I take Betahistine on a daily basis and not just when I have an episode it acts like a preventative. Is that correct?
I was diagnosed with Meniere's 3 years ago and prescribed Serc 8mg (a betahistine) by my GP. 3 years later I now take Serc 16mg 3 times a day. I'm not sure if it helps or not. My GP says to keep taking it. Many people feel it doesn't have any effect, but others swear by it. I still have attacks. Some mild, some where I'm bedridden, but my GP says I'd be a lot worse without it
In my opinion make sure the doctor puts Betahistine on the prescription and doesn't add Serc to it and find a chemist that will give you proper Betahistine and not fob you off with Serc. Lloyds pharmacy dish out Serc even if prescription says Betahistine. I go to an independent chemist now. It could just be the disease but I was so bad when taking Serc. The ingredients are almost the same on the box but I'm lots better on betahistine these days. However, 16mg x3 a day wasn't enough to keep my daily menieres symptoms at bay, I take 32mg x3 a day (ENT hospital consultant authorised) and daily I feel like me again, not normal, but so much better. Keep us posted how you get on? Don't suffer in silence x
Well it just might work for you, but my husband's GP told him it was a placebo years ago, and it has never worked for me. Try cinnarizine, which is an antihistamine (you can find it listed on the MD society website as a treatment and you can buy it over the counter which is a bonus if you want to try it) as that works far better for me. Apparently some meds work for some people and others for other people. The cinnarizine, three times daily doses of 30mg, has worked for me quite well.
I have had meniere's for about 5 years. Last year was the worst with about 12 severe episodes in about 6 months.
Then a special doctor massaged the back of my neck and asked me what had happened in 1997. That was the year my sister and her husband were killed by their mentally ill son. The doctor told me to let the emotions I had felt at that time come to the surface. He also gave me medicine to boost my immune system.
I didn't have any dizzy spells or vomiting for about 6 months but once I got back to being BUSY I got 2 or 3 dizzy spells again.
I live in Japan and the doctor has given me Chinese herbal medicine to take before meals - it is a kind of diuretic.
He also told me I should try to get at least one hour each time at least 3 times a week of physical exercise that I ENJOY - and work up a sweat doing, for me it's walking in nature, bicycling, swimming.
And most important cut down on my work and involvements. My schedule can be full 24-7. That I think is the main reason I get dizzy.
I'm literally out of balance in my life. so I'm trying to SLOW DOWN and
find the BALANCE. Somehow I know my body is my friend and is trying to tell me something.
I was taking Serc since 2000. It has never stopped an attack. But in 2003 I had a 3 month break from it and had more violent, more frequent attacks, so went back on it. (whether the serc made that difference, I do not know)
I usually get precription for serc from same place but one week (a year after being back on it) I couldn't, so got Betahistine Dihydrochloride, which is basically the same drug - Serc is a brand name- I was having more than the usual trouble.
Since being back on serc, I was better, I still had spins etc but I may have been worse not taking them - ???
My partner is also on serc, the chemist tries to fob him off with the cheaper brand ones and he always has problems, so we always asked the doctor to put serc on the prescription.
Having said all that. I came off of serc 4 years ago and feel better in myself. I hadn't realised the fuzzy head feeling was caused by them.
My partner has no problem with serc, he still has attacks but they're not as bad as when he stops taking them.
Confusing isn't it. As they say, nothing in this world is straight forward.
It's a case of seeing what is right for you.
I'm still trying new things.
Oh and serc / Betahistine is supposed to improve blood flow to and from the inner ear and so lessen attacks - a sort of prevention of sorts
just to add - my partner was on a bad bout of spins, the specialist tried him on a short course of double dose of serc. It made no difference whatsoever!
I was on serc and I had the worst attacks of my life, every three days bedridden. I had five weeks on serc and would never go back on it again as I am much better now without it. I am on cinnarizine instead and it seems to work much better for me.
Hi this is so miserable when it occurs, since diagnosis last November, having had a cluster during the summer/autumn period of 2014 I have been looking for ways of managing. I have found the vestibular and Cooksey Hawthorne exercises invaluable. This together with betahistine. I start off in the morning with stretches, exercises and then meditation. They do need quite a bit of getting use to. Good luck with whatever you try.
I used to take it only when I was suffering and when I started talking it all the time I got lots of digestive problem.
I have only started to take since November 2014 but quite a high dose 16mg x 3 times. It really messes with my digestive system if I dont take food. Also if I have with or after fruits. I haven't had so many problems in the last month since I have been a little careful. One GP I first saw on onset said it is a "watch and see" illness.