Betahistine Effects on Tinnitus in Patients with Ménière’s Disease

Abstract

Objectives:

Analyze the effects of betahistine on tinnitus in patients with Ménière’s disease.

Methods:

Retrospective review of the effects of betahistine on tinnitus in patients with Ménière’s disease treated from January 2010 to January 2014. Patients included in this study received therapy with 8 to 64 mg/d of betahistine. Clinical improvement in tinnitus symptoms was defined as a partial or total response.

Results:

A total of 764 patients with Ménière’s disease were identified in our electronic database. Forty seven of these patients were treated with betahistine for vestibular symptoms. Duration of therapy varied from 1 week to 4 years. Twenty-seven patients were successfully contacted for a phone interview or via email. Twenty-three patients reported tinnitus as a symptom. Only 13 of the 23 reported tinnitus as a disturbing symptom. One patient stopped betahistine therapy after the first week because of palpitations, another stopped the betahistine after 2 weeks because of increased dizziness and nausea, and a third briefly stopped treatment while using albuterol for an episode of bronchitis. Only 3 patients had clinical improvement of their tinnitus (3/23; 13%). Sixteen patients reported improvement in their vestibular symptoms (16/27; 59.2%).

Conclusions:

Betahistine does not significantly reduce tinnitus in Ménière’s patients treated for vestibular symptoms. Improvement in tinnitus may occur in some patients.