title: High-dosage betahistine dihydrochloride between 288 and 480 mg/day in patients with severe Menière's disease: a case series.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit and the side effects of high dosages of betahistine dihydrochloride (288-480 mg/day) in patients with severe Menière's disease (MD). In this case series 11 patients with MD who had not responded sufficiently to a dosage of 144 mg/day of betahistine dihydrochloride were treated on an individual basis with daily dosages between 288 and 480 mg of betahistine dihydrochloride. The number of attacks per month and the side effects were monitored. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical analysis. As a result, the frequency and the severity of vertigo were significantly reduced in all patients. The side effects were mild, self-limiting, and did not require any change in the treatment strategy. Despite the considerable limitations of an observational study--in particular in MD--high dosages of betahistine dihydrochloride between 288 and 480 mg/day seem to be effective in patients who do not sufficiently respond to lower dosages. Moreover, such dosages are well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. franziska.lezius@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lezius
authors.affiliation: Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Institut für medizinische Informationsverarbeitung , Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adrion
authors.affiliation: Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Institut für medizinische Informationsverarbeitung , Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mansmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strupp
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001621:Betahistine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D001621:Betahistine