Betahistine+domperidone
About Betahistine+domperidone
Betahistine+domperidone comes under the category of medications called 'antihistamine anti-vertigo medication,' primarily indicated in the treatment of Meniere’s disease (a disorder of the inner ear) and its symptoms, including dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), feeling sick (nausea), and difficulty in hearing and vomiting (being sick) in adults and adolescents 12 years or older. Besides this, it also helps in the treatment of indigestion.
Betahistine+domperidone consists of Betahistine and Domperidone. Betahistine enhances blood flow to the affected part of the ear and reduces the amount of fluid in the inner ear. Domperidone prevents nausea and vomiting symptoms by blocking specific receptors (like dopamine and serotonin) that stimulate the vomiting centre in the brain. It also increases the upper gastrointestinal tract's motility and helps decrease stomach emptying time.
Take Betahistine+domperidone as prescribed. Betahistine+domperidone may cause some unpleasant effects, including indigestion (acid reflux), bloating or mild stomachache, and headache. Most of the undesirable effects caused by this medicine do not require medical attention and will go away in a couple of days. However, if the side effects worsen with time or do not pass in a couple of days, one should seek medical help.
Avoid using Betahistine+domperidone if you are allergic to it. Consult your doctor before taking Betahistine+domperidone if you have asthma, a stomach ulcer, a skin rash, or low blood pressure. Betahistine+domperidone is not recommended for children under 18 years. A person should tell their doctor about the medicines and herbal and non-herbal products they are using. Do not consume Betahistine+domperidone if you are hypersensitive to any components present in Betahistine+domperidone. Before taking the Betahistine+domperidone, inform your doctor if you suffer from liver or kidney problems. If a person is pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to be pregnant, then they can only take this medicine if prescribed by the doctor. Also, tell the doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to Betahistine or any other medicines in the past.
Uses of Betahistine+domperidone
Medicinal Benefits
Betahistine+domperidone is indicated to treat symptoms such as ringing in your ears (tinnitus), dizziness, vertigo, loss of balance, and hearing loss associated with Meniere's disease (an inner ear disorder). Betahistine+domperidone works by increasing the blood flow to your brain and lowering the extra pressure in the inner ear. By easing down the symptoms associated with Meniere's disease, this drug helps people live their everyday lives. Domperidone is a dopamine antagonist that helps by blocking specific vomiting-inducing receptors in the brain. Betahistine+domperidone also acts as a prokinetic agent that increases the upper gastrointestinal tract's motility and decreases gastric emptying time. Domperidone is occasionally used to boost milk production. If you're experiencing difficulty nursing, your doctor may prescribe it if nothing else has helped.
Directions for Use
Take Betahistine+domperidone after meals to avoid stomach upset or as advised by the doctor. Swallow the tablet as a whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, break or chew the tablet.
Storage
Side Effects of Betahistine+domperidone
- Bloating
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Stomach discomfort
Drug Warnings
Betahistine+domperidone is not allowed in patients with porphyria and should be used cautiously in patients with bronchial asthma. This medication is not allowed to be used in children and persons who have galactose intolerance. Vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss are common signs of Meniere's syndrome that can harm a person's ability to drive or operate any machine. Do not consume Betahistine+domperidone if you are allergic to any components present in Betahistine+domperidone. Before taking the Betahistine+domperidone, contact your doctor if you suffer from liver or kidney problems (kidney function impairment or failure). Prolonged intake of Betahistine+domperidone may be associated with an increased risk of heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) and cardiac arrest (heart attack). This risk may be more likely in the elderly (those over 60) or those taking doses higher than 30 mg daily. If you experience heart rhythm disorders like palpitations, trouble breathing, or loss of consciousness after taking the Betahistine+domperidone, immediately contact your doctor. This medicine can cause mild stomach discomfort, so taking it with food can help to reduce stomach problems. Pregnant or breastfeeding females should consult with the doctor before taking this drug, as the use of this medicine is only allowed in such cases when the benefits outweigh the risks.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Betahistine+domperidone may interact with other medicines that include MAO inhibitors (Isocarboxazid), other antihistamines (cetirizine, chlorpheniramine), and medicines used to treat heart problems or high blood pressure (e.g. amiodarone, diltiazem, verapamil), depression (e.g. citalopram, escitalopram), anti-cancer agents (e.g. toremifene, vincamine), bacterial infections (e.g. specifically erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, moxifloxacin, pentamidine), gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. cisapride, prucalopride), antimalarial (e.g. halofantrine), neuro-related medicines (e.g. haloperidol, sertindole), antifungals (e.g. ketoconazole, fluconazole), gastrointestinal drugs (e.g. dolasetron, prucalopride) and anti-HIV drugs.
Drug-Food Interactions: Limit intake of grapefruit juice, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and high salt diet consumption.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Betahistine+domperidone cannot be used in conditions that include peptic ulcer, adrenal tumour, and asthma. Caution should be exercised while using Betahistine+domperidone in patients with heart, kidney, liver disease, brain tumours, history of gastrointestinal bleeding, or any problem involving the bowels.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid consumption of alcohol as it may worsen the side effects of Betahistine+domperidone.
Pregnancy
cautionBetahistine+domperidone can be used during pregnancy but only under the supervision of a physician. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and potential risks before prescribing it. Please consult your doctor.
Breast Feeding
cautionBetahistine+domperidone is not allowed to be taken during breastfeeding or if directed by the doctor as it is still under research whether this medicine passes in breast milk or not.
Driving
unsafeTaking Betahistine+domperidone affects a person's ability to drive, so one should avoid driving.
Liver
cautionIf you have pre-existing liver disease, inform your doctor before taking Betahistine+domperidone as it may worsen your condition.
Kidney
cautionIf you have pre-existing kidney disease, inform your doctor before taking Betahistine+domperidone as it may worsen your condition.
Children
unsafeThe use of Betahistine+domperidone is not recommended in children and adolescents whose age is less than 18 years due to a shortage of data on safety and effectiveness.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea), spicy, deep-fried, and processed foods, carbonated drinks, and acidic foods like citrus fruits and vegetables (tomatoes).
- Make a habit of waiting consistently for the whole day. One should not stay without eating for 4 hours. Limit alcohol consumption, as this may reduce the chances of migraines.
- Get 8 hours of sleep, which helps the body to relax completely.
- A person should quit tobacco or smoking as it narrows the blood vessels and affects circulation, which may result in Meniere's disease.
- Eat a healthy low-fat diet, especially in small portions, as it will be easy to digest. Avoid over-sweet food and include more salty food, especially if you have been vomiting.
- Also, if you like vomiting at a specific time, avoid eating your favourite food at that particular time, as your taste for that food may get turned off.
- Include more cool beverages in your food, such as clear soups, flavoured gelatin, and carbonated beverages. When you drink with a straw, sip slowly to avoid swallowing air that may lead to gas or acidity.
Special Advise
Consuming low-sodium foods is advised, as sodium may cause fluid retention and worsen the symptoms of inner ear inflammation.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Meniere’s disorder: It is a medical condition that affects the inner part of the ear. This disease usually happens when an abnormal amount of fluid accumulates in the inner ear due to improper fluid drainage, abnormal immune response, viral infection, and genetic predisposition. Common signs and symptoms of this disease include vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Hearing loss: It may start or stop by itself. If proper treatment is not provided at the right time, then it may even cause permanent hearing loss.
Vertigo: In this condition, a person experiences the false sensation of spinning or movement of objects that start and stop spontaneously. Episodes of vertigo last for 20 minutes to many hours but not more than a day.
Tinnitus: A person experiences feelings of ringing, buzzing, or whistling sounds in the ear. People dealing with this disease often feel pressure in an affected ear.
Nausea: Nausea is a feeling of stomach uneasiness that often comes before vomiting. On the other hand, vomiting is the forcible, voluntary, or involuntary emptying of stomach contents through the mouth. In short, nausea and vomiting are not diseases but are symptoms of many conditions like infections, motion sickness, an early stage of pregnancy, and gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying). A receptor in our brain known as the chemoreceptor zone (CTZ) controls vomiting.
FAQs
This medicine may take a couple of weeks to show any noticeable improvement. Even if a person starts feeling better, they still need to take this medicine and should not stop it without asking the doctor.
Betahistine+domperidone is used in the treatment of Meniere's disease, dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), loss of hearing, feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting.
Although a person can consume alcohol while taking Betahistine+domperidone, but still alcohol may worsen the side effects of medicine so one should avoid taking it.
Yes, Betahistine+domperidone is a histamine analogue that works by improving the effect of histamine in the inner ear. At the same time, antihistamines are the drugs that work by stopping the action of histamine in the body and are prescribed for relieving the symptoms of allergy.
There is no clear evidence to suggest that taking betahistine would decrease fertility in both men and women. However, if you are trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor before taking it.
Before taking Betahistine+domperidone, inform your doctor if you have any allergies, asthma, pheochromocytoma (a rare tumor of the adrenal gland), and if you have or ever had stomach ulcer.
Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder that causes episodes of spinning (vertigo). It usually starts in one ear, but eventually it can affect both. The symptoms include hearing loss, vertigo (spinning sensation), tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and ear pressure. There is no cure for Meniere's disease yet. However, treatments can help relieve symptoms.
Betahistine+domperidone is effective if it is used as advised by the doctor. Use Betahistine+domperidone for as long as it is prescribed by the doctor. Do not discontinue Betahistine+domperidone early as the symptoms may return or worsen.
Meniere's disease can be triggered by smoking, stress or anxiety, fatigue (overtiredness), hormonal fluctuations, migraines, alcohol, weather changes or side effects of certain medications.
If you forget to take a dose of Betahistine+domperidone, take it as soon as you remember. But, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regular dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
Yes, Betahistine+domperidone can cause dry mouth. In case you feel excessively thirsty, please increase your fluid intake and do frequent mouth rinses.
