Betaserc is a medication containing betahistine as an active ingredient. It is a prescribed medicine which is commonly used for Meneire’s disease. Meneire’s disease occurs as a result of disorder in the inner ear. The inner ear consists of bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth. The bony labyrinth consists of bony cavities within the petrous part of the temporal bone. The bony cavities are cochlea, vestibule and three semicircular canals,
The inner parts of the ear mainly function to transmit sound vibrations and transform them into electrical impulses to be sent to the hearing part of the brain to be processed further. Apart from that, it also functions to regulate body balance. Meneire’s disease occurs as the pressure of the endolymph supply around the inner part of the ear rises up.
Thus, patients with Meneire’s disease often experience classical symptoms such as spinning sensation (vertigo), dizziness and ringing sensation in the ears (tinnitus). Not all patients will experience similar symptoms, some may even have vague symptoms which will be difficult to be diagnosed by doctors.
Betaserc is believed to function by increasing the blood supply to the inner part of the ear thus reducing the pressure of the endolymph system and thus relieving symptoms of Meneire’s disease.
How do you take a betaserc?
Betaserc is available in tablet form in different doses. Common doses available are 8mg, 16mg and 24mg. Please follow the exact prescription given by your doctor which includes the correct dosage, frequency and duration of treatment. Usually the duration of treatment is long as it takes quite a while for the medication to show efficacy.
The usual time to take betaserc is twice per day, one in the morning and another in the evening. Try to take them at the same time everyday to prevent and miss doses. Place the tablet on the tongue for a while to allow it to disintegrate before swallowing them with water. Betaserc can be taken with or without food but it is reported that betaserc may cause stomach upset, thus it is better to take them with food.
If you think you have taken more tablets that you should, you might experience some possible side effects like stomach discomfort. Do meet a doctor if your symptoms are worsening or very concerning. If you have missed or skipped a dose, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not double up the doses to make up for the missed one as this may exaggerate the side effects of betaserc.
What are the side effects of betaserc?
Just like any other drugs, betaserc also has some side effects which are mostly minor and does not require any medical intervention. It is important to notice these side effects as some of them are hazardous and life threatening which requires immediate emergency treatment.
Some of the possible side effects are as below;
- Nausea and stomach upset
- Headache
- Indigestion.
Not everyone will experience the similar pattern of symptoms, however these effects will most probably go off by itself. Next are some serious side effects that need to be noted earlier.
Allergies signs and symptoms;
- Red bumpy rashes and itchy skin
- Swelling of the face, tongue and neck leading to difficulty in breathing
- Rapid breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Drop in your blood pressure
If you are having any of these symptoms, it means you are having anaphylaxis, a severe form of allergic reactions. There is only a very small percentage of cases reported to have such side effects. Immediately go and consult a nearby doctor for further management. You can simply prevent this from happening by informing your doctor if you have any allergy to betaserc or any other “histamine analogue”
