Calcium antagonists and the vestibular system: a critical review of flunarizine as an antivertigo drug.
Flunarizine, a diphenylalkylamine, is one of the most popular antivertiginous drugs used nowadays in France. However, until now, there are very few preliminary data about the physiological or pathophysiological functions of calcium in the vestibular system. Moreover, experimental and clinical arguments are still insufficient to clearly demonstrate that 1) flunarizine is an effective antivertiginous drug and 2) this putative antivertiginous property is really due to the anticalcic action of the drug and not to a more classical antagonistic effect on H1 receptors. Much more work is needed before accepting the indication of any anticalcic drug as an effective antivertigo treatment.
Rascol
O
O
Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique INSERM U317, Faculté de Médecine, Toulouse, France.
Clanet
M
M
Montastruc
J L
JL
D000818:Animals; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005444:Flunarizine