title: Use of betahistine in the treatment of peripheral vertigo.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical studies and meta-analyses demonstrated that betahistine is effective and safe in the treatment of Ménière's disease, BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), vestibular neuronitis, and other types of peripheral vertigo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this paper is to review the pharmacological profile of betahistine and the evidence for its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of peripheral vertigo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selection criteria for the publications on betahistine included randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness and safety of betahistine vs placebo or active control in the treatment of peripheral vertigo. Recent meta-analyses were also included. Databases searched included PubMed, the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, and ICTRP. The review also presents an update on the mechanisms of action, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of betahistine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Efficacy and safety of betahistine has been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. The precise mechanism of action of betahistine is still not completely understood, but the clinical experience demonstrated the benefit of betahistine in different types of peripheral vertigo. In more than 40 years of clinical use, betahistine has shown an excellent safety profile with the usual dose range from 8-48 mg daily. According to clinical studies, betahistine 48 mg daily during 3 months is an effective and safe option for the treatment of peripheral vertigo.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Otorrinolaringologo y Neurotologo, Medicentro del Parque , San Luis Potosí S.L.P, México.
authors.forename: Rubén
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramos Alcocer
authors.affiliation: b 2 ORL, Otoneurología, Fundación Venezolana de Otología, Instituto de Otorrinolaringología y Oftalmología, Hospital Militar Dr Carlos Arvelo , Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: José Gregorio
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ledezma Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: c 3 Médico Otorrinolaringólogo-Neurootólogo, Servicio de ORL, Dirección General de Aviación Civil, Director de la clínica del vértigo y acúfenos , Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Navas Romero
authors.affiliation: d 4 Profesor Titular de Neurologia, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Centro de Medicina Aeroespacial, Fuerza Aérea de Chile , Las Condes, Santiago de Chile.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cardenas Nuñez
authors.affiliation: e 5 Otorrinolaringólogo-Otólogo, Clínica del Country, Clínica La Colina , Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Montoya
authors.affiliation: f 6 Centro de Otorrinolaringología y Especialidades, Universidad autónoma de Santo Domingo , República Dominicana.
authors.forename: Jose Junior
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Deschamps
authors.affiliation: g 7 Neurología, Clínica privada Jorge Anibal Liviac Ticse , Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Jorge Anibal
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Liviac Ticse
mesh_terms: D001621:Betahistine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D014717:Vertigo / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D017442:Histamine Agonists; D001621:Betahistine
keywords: Ménière’s disease; benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; neuronitis; prevention; treatment; vestibular compensation