User:Mr. Ibrahem/Betahistine

Betahistine, sold under the brand name Serc among others, is a medication used for vertigo and ringing in the ears including that due to Ménière's disease. Evidence for these uses; however, is weak. Improvement may take a few days to occur. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include headache, nausea, and abdominal discomfort. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is unclear. Betahistine is a H1 histamine agonist and a H3 histamine antagonist. It is believed to work by improving blood flow to the inner ear.

Betahistine was approved for medical use in the 1970s. While approved in the United States in the 1970s, this approval was removed due to a lack of benefit. It remains in use in other countries. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom 84 doses of 16 mg costs the NHS less than 5 pounds while in Canada it is about 25 CAD as of 2020.