Betahistine (Serc) is a popular medicine that is prescribed to treat a variety of complaints. The main indication for taking Betahistine is to treat patients with Ménière’s disease, however many patients take Betahistine to relieve other symptoms, such as vertigo, dizziness, and tinnitus.
Good evidence to support the use of Betahistine for the treatment of Ménière’s disease is severely lacking despite its common use. About five years ago a scientific study was performed in China to evaluate the potential benefits of Betahistine for tinnitus patients. The results of this study demonstrated a reduction in the loudness of tinnitus when using special hearing tests to assess tinnitus loudness, but when questionnaires were used to assess whether the subjects felt that their tinnitus was quieter, or whether the impact of tinnitus on their life was reduced, no improvements could be satisfactorily demonstrated. The results of this study, to some degree, are interesting, however this type of study has not been replicated in either China, or anywhere else in the rest of the world. Only a summary of this study has been reproduced in English, so I have written to the authors for clarification of the methods used and some more details regarding the study findings, but unfortunately I am still waiting for a reply.
