Act Betahistine: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

ACT BETAHISTINE is used for reducing the episodes of recurrent vertigo (dizziness) associated with Ménière’s disease.

What it does:

ACT BETAHISTINE is a type of medicine called a histamine-analogue. It is thought to work by helping the blood flow in your inner ear, which lowers the build up of pressure. It is this build up of pressure in the ear which is thought to cause feelings of dizziness (vertigo), feelings of being sick (nausea and vomiting), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and hearing loss or hearing difficulty suffered by people with Ménière’s disease.

When it should not be used:

Do not take ACT BETAHISTINE if:

• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to betahistine dihydrochloride

  or to any of the non-medicinal ingredients in the product.

• you have a peptic (stomach) ulcer or have a history of this

  condition.

• your doctor has told you that you have an adrenal gland

  tumour (called phaeochromocytoma).

What the medicinal ingredient is:

betahistine dihydrochloride

What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:

citric acid, crospovidone, hydrogenated vegetable oil, lactose monohydrate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone

What dosage forms it comes in:

Tablets: 16 mg and 24 mg.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

BEFORE you use ACT BETAHISTINE talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you:

• have or have had health problems in the past.
• you are taking medications, including ones you can take without a doctor’s prescription e.g. natural or herbal remedies.
• suffer from bronchial asthma, since asthmatic patients should use ACT BETAHISTINE with caution.
• have liver problems.

• are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

• are less than 18 years old.

Driving and using machines: ACT BETAHISTINE is not likely to affect your ability to drive or use tools or machinery. However, remember that the disease for which you are being treated (recurrent vertigo associated with Ménière’s disease) can make you feel dizzy or sick, and can affect your ability to drive and use machines. Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities if you are experiencing these symptoms.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

As with most medicines, interactions with other drugs are possible. Tell your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about all the medicines you take, including drugs prescribed by other doctors, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements, or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with ACT BETAHISTINE:

• antihistamines - these may lower the effect of ACT

  BETAHISTINE. In addition, ACT BETAHISTINE may lower the effect of antihistamines.

• monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) - used to treat depression or Parkinson ’s disease. These may increase the amount of ACT BETAHISTINE available in your bloodstream and your doctor may have to change your dose of ACT BETAHISTINE.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

It is very important to take ACT BETAHISTINE exactly as your doctor has instructed. If you are not sure when or how many tablets to take each day, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. It is recommended to take your dose at about the same time every day. ACT BETAHISTINE is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age.

ACT BETAHISTINE can be taken with or without food. If ACT BETAHISTINE causes upset stomach, take it with meals.

Usual adult dose:

The usual daily dose is 24 – 48 mg daily in divided doses.

ACT BETAHISTINE 16 mg tablets - half to one tablet three times a day.

or

ACT BETAHISTINE 24 mg tablets - one tablet twice a day.

Overdose:

If you think you have taken too much ACT BETAHISTINE contact your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose:

If you forget a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

Like all medicines, ACT BETAHISTINE can cause side effects in some people. Most people have few or no side effects from ACT BETAHISTINE. Side effects that do occur tend to be generally mild and do not last a long time.

Side effects include:

• skin rashes and itching
• stomach pain
• nausea, vomiting
• bloating, indigestion
• headache

After the release of ACT BETAHISTINE on the market, there were few reports of patients experiencing drowsiness, heart palpitations or lightheadedness, faintness or dizziness from a drop in blood pressure during treatment with ACT BETAHISTINE. It is unclear whether they resulted from the use of ACT BETAHISTINE or other unrelated factors.

If any of these affect you severely, tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking ACT BETAHISTINE, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

HOW TO STORE IT

Store tablets at room temperature (15-30°C) and protect from exposure to moisture and light.

Tablets should not be removed from its original packaging until ready for administration.

Keep out of reach and sight of children.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

• Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting

  (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/index-eng.php) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or

• Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

MORE INFORMATION

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting the sponsor, Actavis Pharma Company, at: 1-866-254-6111.

Actavis Pharma Company 6733 Mississauga Road, Suite 400 Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6J5 Canada

Last revised: November 6, 2017