Effect of Betahistine Treatment on Dizziness and Anxiety Symptoms of BPPV Patients

Abstract

Background: Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may experience significant deterioration in their quality of life  due to dizziness and anxiety symptoms.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of betahistine add-on therapy on dizziness and anxiety symptoms of  BPPV patients.

Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed as having posterior canal BPPV were included in the  study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment regimen: Group 1 included 42 subjects who were treated with  the Epley maneuver alone and Group 2 included 42 subjects who received betahistine 48 mg/day for ten days with the Epley maneuver.  Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) and Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) were evaluated at the time of diagnosis and at the control  examination on the tenth day.

Results: The mean before and after treatment DHI scores were 38.8 ± 14.6 and 5.47 ± 6.4 for Group 1 (P <  0.001), and 45.8 ± 21.1 and 10.3 ± 12.9 for Group 2 (P < 0.001). The mean before and after treatment BAI scores were 11.8 ± 6 and 1.33 ±  1.8 for Group 1 (P < 0.001), and 13.6 ± 8.3 and 2.9 ± 3.8 for Group 2 (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the before and  after treatment DHI and BAI score differences of the two groups (P = 0.27, P = 0.43).

Conclusion: Canalith repositioning maneuvers  (CRMs) should be the main treatment modality in the management of BPPV patients and adding on betahistine treatment to CRMs have  no impact in the relieving of dizziness and anxiety symptoms.