If you follow your doctor's instructions Serc should start working within a few days, although in some cases it may take a few weeks. The length of time that you should take Serc tablets varies from patient to patient. Some patients respond rapidly to treatment and others may take some time.
Common side effects (at least 1 in 100 and less than 1 in 10 patients): Nausea, indigestion, headaches. Itching, rash, hives, mild gastric complaints such as vomiting, stomach pain and bloating. Taking Serc with food can help reduce any stomach problems.
It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks before any response to betahistine is noticeable. If you forget to take your dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. But, if it is nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the right time.
You'll usually take betahistine 3 times a day, leaving 6 to 8 hours between doses. When you start taking betahistine it may take a couple of weeks before you notice any improvements. Common side effects include headache, feeling sick or indigestion. They're usually mild and do not last long.
Several clinical trials have demonstrated that betahistine is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of vertigo, and improving vertigo-associated symptoms, including nausea and vomiting [7,9–15].
Dosage and strength
Betahistine comes as 8mg or 16mg tablets. The usual starting dose is 16mg, taken 3 times a day. Leave 6 to 8 hours between doses. When your symptoms are under control, your doctor may reduce your dose to 8mg, taken 3 times a day.
SERC contains the active ingredient betahistine dihydrochloride. SERC is used to treat a disorder of your inner ear. This disorder may include one or more of the following symptoms, in one or both ears: ringing in the ears (tinnitus), loss of clear hearing and problems with balance (vertigo).
Your doctor may advise a trial of betahistine for 6-12 months to see if it helps to reduce your symptoms. If it does, it can then be continued. Some people with Ménière's disease claim their symptoms improve with a low-salt diet, regular exercise, stopping smoking, and cutting out caffeine and alcohol.
How should I use this medication? The usual recommended dose of betahistine for adults is 24 mg to 48 mg given in 2 or 3 divided doses (i.e., 12 mg to 24 mg twice a day, or 8 mg to 16 mg three times a day). To prevent stomach upset, it is recommended that this medication be taken with food.
Ménière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes vertigo in addition to symptoms such as ringing in the ears, headache, and loss of hearing. Betahistine is used to reduce the number of episodes of vertigo associated with Ménière's disease. It is believed to work by decreasing the pressure in the ear.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Serc affects you. This medicine may cause dizziness, and tiredness in some people. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Anxiety symptoms
The repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant effect of time (P<0.00001), indicating that both high-dose and low-dose betahistine could significantly reduce the HARS score.
The vertigo intensity score was more frequently improved on betahistine than on placebo, a difference that was significant from day 15 onwards and associated symptoms (tinnitus, aural fullness, nausea, and vomiting was also more frequently improved on betahistine than on placebo.
SERC is used to treat a disorder of your inner ear. This disorder may include one or more of the following symptoms, in one or both ears: ringing in the ears (tinnitus), loss of clear hearing and problems with balance (vertigo).
Serc is available in two strengths – 8mg tablets and 16mg tablets. The usual dose is 24mg to 48 mg per day: 8mg tablets – one or two tablets three times a day. 16mg tablets – half or one tablet three times a day. If you take more than one tablet each day, spread your tablets evenly over the day.
There are many names for these medications (e.g. Serc, Stemetil) but essentially they are designed to reduce nausea and discomfort during a severe attack of vertigo. This is the sort of vertigo where our visual world is spinning for longer than 20-minutes.
Betahistine may be associated with weight loss.
The reason is that centrally acting antihistamines seem to cause weight gain (Hampton, 2007), and by the same token, histamine agonists may cause weight loss.
This medication may irritate the stomach, and should be taken with food. It is best to avoid coffee, spicy food or alcohol.
Betahistine enters the CNS and improves histaminergic neurotransmission (12). Although several studies have reported subsequent improvements in cognitive function (12–16), they have shown conflicting findings on the effects of betahistine on cognition.
You should not drink alcohol while being treated with this medicine, because there have been reported cases of interaction between this medicine with alcohol. Betahistine should not be taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding unless your doctor has decided that it is necessary.
This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your doctor or pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Generally, it is used only as needed. This medication may irritate the stomach, and should be taken with food.
Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed maintenance medications for Meniere's disease. Diuretics work by restricting the overproduction of fluid in the inner ear. Diuretics are long-term medications. They help reduce the number of vertigo attacks, and in some cases, they help stabilize hearing.
Betahistine can be taken with or without food. However, Betahistine can cause mild stomach problems (listed in section 4). Taking betahistine with food can help reduce stomach problems.