1st Post - Successful regimen so far ->

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by BackLite, Apr 30, 2014.

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  1. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    Hello, everyone. ‘Very glad to be here.

    I had tinnitus (right ear only) for 15 years before my 1st Meniere's attack. Then the onslaught started, culminating in cluster attacks over a 3-day period.

    However, I am cautiously pleased to say that not only have I been M-attack free for 6 weeks now but an unexpected bonus is that my Tinnitus noise level has dropped to (almost) nothing and my hearing in the affected ear (right only) is now at 80-85% of what is, for me, normal (although a semitone lower).

    My treatment was as follows:

    1] Betahistine 16mg tabs - “4 tablets 3 times a day” and 2 tablets at bedtime. (224 mg/day). My GP started me at 16mg 3 times a day which did nothing. France, Germany and other European countries have been prescribing 288mg - 480mg a day with good results and little to no side effects.

    2] Apo-Triazide 50/25mg. (I don't know what 50/25 means but that's what's on the label). A diuretic which removes fluid & salt from your body (i.e.: the fluid in your inner ear).

    3] Xanax 0.25mg. I had Xanax on hand as I had panic attacks since I was 16. My regular med's have that under control but I could still get anxious over meetings, in crowds, dinner out and so on. I started taking Xanax once my Meniere's attack had subsided as it helped to calm me down. Now I believe that the Xanax ‘may’ have played a role in the Tinnitus noise reduction process.

    Finally, all this good news (for me) has only been in effect for a (relatively) short time. I understand that the Meniere's, Tinnitus and hearing loss may return at any time, however, I feel prepared knowing that the combination of med's worked once and (I hope) could, or should, work again.

    Sincerely.
     
  2. Philosopher

    Philosopher New Member

    Hello Backlite. Good to hear of your recovery and thanks for posting what works for you.

    Of note, items #1 and #2 that Backlite has listed is the choice treatment prescribed by doctors worldwide but for some reason Betahistine (Serc) is not available in the U.S. unless it is compounded by your pharmacist. In the vast majority of TRUE Meniere's cases, this treatment works and has very high degrees of success which allows people to return to living a normal life.
     
  3. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    Thanks for the kind words, Philosopher. I should have mentioned that I live in Canada where Betahistine (SERC) is a regularly dispensed pharmaceutical like any other prescribed drug ... and it’s relatively inexpensive too.

    I was prepared to go as high as 10x16=160 tablets, three times a day (480mg/day), if necessary.

    ‘One day at a time.
     
  4. Philosopher

    Philosopher New Member

    Hi Backlite. I am in Canada (Toronto) too. SERC is regularly prescribed with success for menieres and it is a very safe drug. Hang in there!
     
  5. bubbagump

    bubbagump New Member

    does Serc only help with dizziness/vertigo or also with fullness and hearing loss?
     
  6. jaypr

    jaypr New Member

    In my experience of serc it helps to prevent vertigo rather than deal with vertigo once it has happened. It took a few weeks to begin to work for me. My ENT said that taking large amounts of serc doesn't necessarily work any better than a standard prescription of 3 x 16mg per day.

    I would recommend serc to steady the ship after a week or two and buccastem to stop an attack once it starts or feels likely to start. Buccastem is similar to valium.

    Serc did nothing for fullness and I wouldn't know about its effect on tinnitus as I was fortunate never to suffer from that.
     
  7. Donamo

    Donamo Guest

    Thanks for posting Backlite, do you know, or did your doctor explain how Serc works to alleviate your symptoms?
     
  8. CarolineJ.

    CarolineJ. New Member

    Hi Backlite ... I'm in Toronto too :)

    I take SERC and haven't had the severe vertigo attacks for about 3 years now. I've been symptomatic for 5 years.

    bubbagump ... SERC has no impact on my fullness or tinnitus. I don't have hearing loss so can't comment on that.
     
  9. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    Actually, my GP has been my doctor for thirty, or more, years. Generally, I research my symptoms (on the web) and most likely treatment, then I present this data to him. In this case, however, it was the ER doctor who diagnosed me after a three hour M-attack. So I researched Meniere's and put together my regimen. He agreed and so here we are.

    I am scheduled to see an ENT specialist in mid July. I saw him many years ago when I came down with Tinnitus. He was little, to no, help so, I don't expect our meeting to last long.

    Here's a link to a very condensed version of the Betahistine (European) dosage info ...

    http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/21626121

    There is a much longer and more detailed PDF file of this available. I can send a copy to you if you can't find it.

    Good luck, Donamo.
     
  10. Juz

    Juz New Member

    Great to hear you're having success!

    I've tried betahistine more than once and our didn't help at all. Does seem to offer something to some people so it's quite odd that it's not available in the US.
     
  11. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    I could be wrong, but, I believe the combination and dosage of all three (Betahistine, Apo-Triazide and Xanax) was the best available regimen ‘for me’. Take any one out of the equation and the results may not have been the same.

    If I have another bout of Meniere's, and the regimen doesn't work, then I will consider getting the intratympanic Dexamethasone injection. That's basically what my July ENT appointment is for.

    I've got two detailed videos of the procedure on DVD to give to the ENT doc’ but he'd have to do a lot of convincing before I'd let him anywhere near my inner ear with the steroid injection.

    One day at a time.
     
  12. upgrader

    upgrader New Member

    Did betahistine help with your fullness?
     
  13. deadeye

    deadeye New Member

    took serc for years at first it really helped but eventually stopped i got it from canadian pharmacy and paid $50 for free shipping for life still have some; may start taking them again and see what happens doing better with the dizzies but still have fullness,ringing,and sensitivity good luck
     
  14. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    I can's say if it was the betahistine or the diuretic, specifically, or the combination but, yes, the full ear feeling was gone.

    I have lowered my daily intake of betahistine to ‘2 tabs, 3x a day with 1 at bedtime’ so my daily total is now 112mg a day. Eventually, I will try to drop to ‘1 tablet, 3 times a day’ as a maintenance level.

    This diuretic is particularly strong. It took 4 to 5 days before I noticed changes in my bodily functions (e.g.: dry mouth, hardly any fluid in poop, etc.). I took the diuretic for 30 days (only) and after 10 days, my bodily functions have still not returned to ‘my 100% normal state’ but, who cares. It helped. Perhaps, even a lot.

    This whole thing is a grey area so what works for one may, or may not, help another. It’s a crap shoot.

    One day at a time.
     
  15. CarolineJ.

    CarolineJ. New Member

    Where in Canada are you Backlite?
     
  16. zotjen

    zotjen New Member

    Backlite, how long did it take for your symptoms to start to improve once you started the regimen?
     
  17. kaiguy55

    kaiguy55 New Member

    Deadeye, are you in the US? How did you get a hold of some SERC/Betahistine? My ENT won't prescribe it for me even though I know it is available through a compounding pharmacy
     
  18. BackLite

    BackLite New Member

    I’m in Victoria, BC. A nice, small city, however, it’s so small that we have no Neurotologists or Otologists here. We have a handful of ENT’s. That’s it. Without access to the information available on the net, I’d be screwed.

    The ER doc’ prescribed 8mg betahistine, 3 times a day. My GP raised it to 16mg, 3 times a day. Based on my research of the European regimen, I raised my dosage to 64mg, 3 times a day (9:00am - 3:00pm - 9:00pm) and an extra 32mg at bedtime. My GP’s on-board and I requested the specific diuretic (Apo-Triazide) again based on my findings.

    My GP, bless his heart, can't be expected to know the new treatments for all ills, all the time, however, I would expect the ENT’s to keep current with the changes in their (so-called) areas of expertise. I don’t think this is the case.

    Oh, well.
     
  19. CarolineJ.

    CarolineJ. New Member

    Beautiful place to live Backlite.

    Unfortunately wherever you live in Canada there is a shortage of Neurotologists. In Toronto, there is no guarantee that they have space for you although I am lucky enough to belong to a Neurotology Clinic at Toronto General.

    Have you seen this guy? I think he is a Neurotologist. http://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/62294/Dr-Fraser-Noel-Victoria-BC.html
     
  20. CarolineJ.

    CarolineJ. New Member

    Looked him up a little further and he did his Fellowship at House. I think you should try to get in to see him :)

    http://www.betterhearingexpo.com/speaker/dr-fraser-noel/
     

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