There are many types of drugs available for the treatment of vertigo. Most drugs are sold only along with prescriptions while there are a very few vertigo meds that are sold as over the counter (OTC) drugs. Among vertigo meds available with prescriptions, betahistine is a widely prescribed medication. Key use of this med rests in the ability of its active ingredients to reduce dizziness, abdominal problems such as nausea or vomiting; also, inner ear conditions – especially, those triggered owing to a marked change in inside-ear pressure level, etc. Will this drug make you to shed those extra pounds of bodyweight? It becomes important to know more on this before starting to take this vertigo medication.
Clinical studies indicate that the main causes for the incidence of vertigo can be (1) a significant change in the pressure levels inside your ears, (2) deposit of crystals inside the otolith area of your ears and (3) a few other reasons such as scaling / climbing tall structures, etc. In most cases of vertigo, changes in pressure stands out as a lead cause for adverse signs such as feeling dizzy, ringing in ears (or, tinnitus), a marked decrease in your ability to hear ambient sounds, etc. However, the incidence of vertigo owing to other causes cannot be ruled out. In a few instances, deposits of inner-ear crystals may get dislodged and may get inside the deeper canals of your ear. You need to know these crystals are crucial to maintain your balance – especially, in relation to gravitational forces.
Head movements to resorb inner ear crystals
You can make these crystals get resorbed through a set of movements. These are essentially manoeuvres of head / body and neck. These movements have the backing of the academy of neuro sciences, a nodal agency based in the US. The academy however recommends you to pursue these manoeuvres under the supervision and medical care of a qualified physical therapist. In most cases, the treating physician will prescribe drugs such as betahistine along with such head or neck movements. Studies done on people who did the manoeuvres without taking betahistine showed limited progress; on the other hand, those who made these head movements accompanied by intake of vertigo drugs are found to make sizable progress during their treatment plan.
Intake of betahistine to treat tinnitus, vertigo and its other signs
In general, vertigo is a condition which triggers extreme levels of dizziness and can make you go. As a result, you may walk or perform activities without balance; you may even stumble while you are walking. Most of your movements may turn unsteady owing to dizziness. Such spells of vertigo may persist for many hours or may disappear on its own in a few minutes. Apart from losing your balance, you are also likely to witness shifty eyeballs, headaches, tinnitus (or, ringing deep in your ears), sweating profusely, etc. People with vertigo may also notice a significant decrease in their ability to hear while some have experienced loss of hearing, in full.
You must always remember that vertigo med betahistine must be taken under the guidance of a doctor. It is dangerous to consume it without talking to a pharmacist or a physician. Ensure to stay away from taking betahistine for self-medication (in any case, this drug is seldom available as an over the counter product). Intake of this drug without witnessing the typical signs of vertigo can lead to adverse reactions as well as allergies. It may cause some of the signs of vertigo – especially, conditions like excessive levels of dizziness, hearing impairment, abdominal discomforts such as vomiting or nausea; these symptoms can also be accompanied by a marked change in pressure levels deep inside your ears.
But, does betahistine make you to lose weight?
The use of betahistine for treating dizziness, inner ear pressure changes as well as vertigo is widely known. However, one of the side effects of the drug is its ability to lose weight. The drug’s ability is to block histamine (especially, type 3) sensors / receptors and also activate receptors / sensors of histamine type 1. Regardless of such proven uses, the drug is known to help shed additional flab in some people.
People who take anti-psychotic drugs – especially, meds like olanzapine, etc., are likely to witness an increase in body weight. Clinical studies suggest that intake of such weight-boosting drugs along with betahistine can arrest the likely increase in body weight. Hence, for a few people – meds such as olanzapine is administered along with the vertigo med betahistine to keep body weight under control. The most important benefit is – the active ingredients of this vertigo med are known to have almost nil / very minimal interference with the action of anti-psychotic drugs.
Possible side effects of betahistine you need to be aware of
You need to remember that betahistine must not be taken on a self-medication mode. It must always be accompanied by prescriptions, written by a qualified medical practitioner. Side effects of this med are mostly minor in nature. However, a few one-off allergies or acute side effects have also been reported. In some remote cases, this med may cause allergies like rashes, irritation or itchiness on skin, pain in abdomen, etc. A few acutely adverse reactions include swelling of oral parts like tongue, gums, lips, etc. inflammation of cheeks or other facial organs, breathing difficulties including shortness of breath or wheezing.
Some of the common side effects of betahistine are migraines, formation of gas, bloating acid reflux etc. as well as some abdominal problems such as nausea or vomiting. Most of these adverse conditions and side effects are likely to go off on their own; however, a few of these discomforts may possibly persist for a relatively longer duration. The point to note is – not all people who took betahistine developed these side effects. It is a small proportion of users who reported such discomforts. Upon witnessing any serious allergies or discomforts – which do not go away on their own, you need to talk to your physician as quickly as you possibly can.
Other precautions to be taken before starting to take betahistine
If you are living with any breathing conditions or respiratory problems – say, conditions like bronchitis, asthma or any chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, you must not take this med. Open up about your family’s medical history as well as your clinical history with your treating doctor; in short, your medical team must be made aware of all prior illnesses prior to starting your medication plan. Those who are nursing an infant or breastfeeding need to talk to their treating doctor. As clinical research has not fully evidenced the entry of active ingredients into mother’s milk, women nursing their baby must stay away from taking betahistine.
Also, those who are living with hepatic problems or liver health related conditions – you must consult with your physician as well as pharmacist. Those with liver conditions like – say, hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver may experience an accumulation of this drug’s active ingredients. If this drug is not stopped immediately, it may eventually lead to toxicity as well as a few other liver problems.
In sum, this drug has the capability to make you lose some weight, But, it is not be used as an anti-obesity medication. This weight management use is restricted mainly for co-administration with drugs which may increase bodyweight. For example, a few anti-psychotic drugs such as olanzapine are more likely to stimulate weight gain. People who take this med are often prescribed to take betahistine along with the doses – this practice is known to reduce risks of weight gain. Betahistine must never be taken without clinical assistance or needful supervision. So, always consult a qualified medical practitioner prior to understand more about the capability of this med to reduce bodyweight.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
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