Country: South Africa
Language: English
Source: South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)
Schering
SERC® 16 tablets SCHEDULING STATUS: S3 PROPRIETARY NAME (and dosage form): SERC ® 16 tablets COMPOSITION: Each tablet contains betahistine dihydrochloride 16 mg. PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION: A. 5.6 Histamine. PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION: Betahistine dihydrochloride is an analogue of histamine. It is completely absorbed after oral administration. The dose is almost completely excreted in the urine in about 24 hours in the form of the metabolite 2 pyridylacetic acid. The mechanism of action of betahistine is not known. Pharmacological testing in animals has shown that the blood circulation in the striae vascularis of the inner ear improves, probably by means of a relaxation of the precapillary sphincters of the microcirculation of the inner ear. In pharmacological studies, betahistine was found to have weak H 1 receptor agonistic and considerable H 3 antagonistic properties in the CNS and autonomic nervous system. Betahistine was also found to have a dose dependent inhibiting effect on spike generation of neurons in lateral and medial vestibular nuclei. The importance of this observation in the action against Ménière’s syndrome or vestibular vertigo, however, remains unclear. INDICATIONS: Symptomatic treatment of the vertigo associated with Ménière’s Syndrome. CONTRA-INDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients. Patients with active peptic ulcer. Patients with phaeochromocytoma. DOSAGE AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Adult dosage The usual initial dose is 8 to 16 mg three times daily to be taken preferably with meals. Maintenance doses of up to 48 mg daily have been recommended. SIDE-EFFECTS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Gastro-intestinal disturbances, headache and skin rashes have been reported. Special precautions Caution should be exercised when betahistine dihydrochloride is give Read the complete document