title: Double-blind, randomized, multicenter study comparing the effect of betahistine and flunarizine on the dizziness handicap in patients with recurrent vestibular vertigo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was to compare the efficacy of betahistine dihydrochloride (BH) and flunarizine (FL) using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a validated self-assessment questionnaire that has not previously been used in a clinical trial to evaluate antivertigo drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with recurrent vertigo of peripheral vestibular origin and who were severely handicapped by vertigo were randomized to an 8-week course of treatment with oral BH 48 mg daily or oral FL 10 mg daily. The efficacy endpoints were the total DHI score and the physical, functional and emotional subscores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two patients completed the study. After 8 weeks of treatment the mean total DHI score and the physical subscore were significantly lower in the BH group compared to the FL group (7.5 and 3.6 points, respectively). The mean total DHI score as well as the three subscores decreased significantly after 4 and 8 weeks in both treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that at 8 weeks BH is significantly more effective than FL in terms of improving the total DHI score and the physical subscore. It was also established that the DHI is a useful and reliable method for evaluating the efficacy of antivertigo drugs.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Otorhinolaryngology, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albera
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciuffolotti
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Cicco
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Benedittis
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grazioli
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melzi
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mira
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pallestrini
authors.forename: Desiderio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Passali
authors.forename: Agostino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vicini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001621:Betahistine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D017442:Histamine Agonists; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005444:Flunarizine; D001621:Betahistine