Betahistine
Antivertigo agents
Antivertigo agents
An oral medicine for Ménière's disease that reduces vertigo, tinnitus and how often attacks happen.
Quick facts
- Group
- Antivertigo agents
- Target
- Inner-ear circulation (mechanism not fully established)
- Used for
- Symptoms of Ménière's disease
- Key effects
- Nausea · Indigestion · Headache
- Monitor
- Frequency and severity · Stomach symptoms in people
- ATC
- N07CA01
No doses: the clinician sets them by the current guideline.
Mechanism of action
Betahistine is thought to improve blood flow in the inner ear and so reduce the build-up of pressure that drives the vertigo, tinnitus and fullness of Ménière's disease. With regular use it can make attacks milder and less frequent.
- Betahistine reaches the inner ear
- Inner-ear blood flow is thought to improve
- Pressure build-up falls
- Fewer and milder vertigo attacks
Indications
- Symptoms of Ménière's disease: vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss Ménière disease →
Adverse effects
Common
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Headache
Contraindications
- Previous allergy or serious reaction to betahistine
Key interactions
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants
- May not mix well with betahistine; reviewed before starting
- Antihistamines for allergy
- May not mix well with betahistine; reviewed before starting
What is monitored
- Frequency and severity of vertigo attacks
- Stomach symptoms in people with a history of peptic ulcer
- Breathing in people with asthma
Administration and safety
- Oral tablets swallowed with water, preferably with or after a meal
- It can take some time before the symptoms improve
- Not stopped without talking to the treating team
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It is not usually used in pregnancy or breastfeeding because there is little information; the treating team weighs the benefits and risks.
Nursing care
- Ask about asthma, low blood pressure and peptic ulcer before starting, as it may not be suitable
- Teach that it does not usually affect driving
- Teach the signs of anaphylaxis
Pharmacokinetics
- Absorption
- Oral tablets, usually several times a day, best with or after food
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which disease is betahistine used for?
Ménière's disease (vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss).
In which two conditions may betahistine not be suitable?
Asthma and peptic ulcer (also low blood pressure, pregnancy and breastfeeding).
Which allergy medicines may not mix well with betahistine?
Antihistamines.
Connections
← Back to the class: Antivertigo agents
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Betahistine: a medicine used to treat Ménière's disease - NHS (NHS (National Health Service, UK), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.