Serkastin
Only pleasant dizziness
Ingredients and output form: Betahistine Dihydrochloride 24.00 mg №30 tablets
Betahistine is approved for the treatment of Ménière’s disease and vestibular vertigo in more than 80 countries worldwide and has been reportedly prescribed more than 130 million patients.
Pharmacological Group: anti-vertigo medication
Read the instructions in detail before use.
From the drugstore is issued with form III recipe
Manufacturer: Eurofarma, Brasil
Serkastin
DOSAGE FORM AND HOW SUPPLIED
Each tablet contains 24 mg of Betahistine Dihydrochloride in packages with 30 tablets.
ADULT USE
ORAL USE
Each 24mg tablet contains:
- Betahistine Dihydrochloride 24.00 mg
Inactive ingredients qs………1 tablet
Inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, mannitol, citric acid, talc, and silicon dioxide.
INFORMATION TO PATIENTS
- FOR WHAT IS THIS MEDICATION INDICATED?
This medication is indicated for:
– Meniere’s Disease: characterized by three (3) main symptoms:
- vertigo (sensation of dizziness with malaise followed by nausea or vomiting);
- ringing in the ears, and
- hearing loss or impairment.
– Sensation of dizziness: caused when a part of your inner ear controlling your balance is not working properly (called “vestibular vertigo”).
- HOW DOES THIS MEDICATION WORK?
Serkastin contains betahistine, which is a type of medication called “histamine analogue”, and acts by improving the blood flow in your inner ear. This reduces the pressure buildup. Serkastin improves the symptoms of vertigo (followed by nausea and vomiting) and ringing in the ears. Improvement will sometimes only be observed after a few weeks of treatment. The best results are sometimes achieved after a few months.
There is evidence that the treatment, if conducted from the onset of the disease, will prevent its progression and/or hearing loss at advanced stages of the disease.
- WHEN SHOULD I NOT USE THIS MEDICATION?
Contraindications
Do not take Serkastin if:
- You are allergic (hypersensitivity) to betahistine or to any of the components in the product (see COMPOSITION);
- Your doctor tells you that you have a tumor of the adrenal gland (called pheochromocytoma).
Do not take this medication if any of the above situations applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Serkastin.
- WHAT SHOULD I KNOW BEFORE I USE THIS MEDICATION?
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your physician or pharmacist before you take this medication if:
- You have suffered from a stomach ulcer,
- You have asthma.
If any of the situations above applies to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Serkastin. Your doctor may want to monitor you more closely while you are taking Serkastin.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It has not been established whether Serkastin adversely affects the fetus; therefore:
- Stop taking Serkastin and talk to your doctor if you become pregnant
- Or you suspect that you are pregnant.
- Do not take Serkastin if you are pregnant, unless your doctor decides it is necessary.
It is not known whether Serkastin is excreted in the breast milk; therefore:
Do not breastfeed if you are taking Serkastin unless otherwise authorized by your doctor.
This medication must not be used by pregnant women without medical guidance.
Effects on the ability to drive or operate machines
Serkastin is not likely to affect your ability to drive or operate machines.
However, keep in mind that the diseases for which you are being treated with Serkastin, such as Meniere’s Disease or vertigo, can make you feel dizziness or malaise, and can thus affect your ability to drive and operate machines.
Drug interactions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medication, including over-the-counter medications and herbal medicines (medications obtained from active vegetable raw materials).
In particular, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medications:
- Antihistamines – these can (theoretically) reduce the effect of Serkastin. Serkastin can also reduce the effect of antihistamines.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as, for instance, selegiline – used for treating depression or Parkinson’s disease. These medications can increase the amount of betahistine dihydrochloride in the organism.
If any of the above situations applies to you (or you are not sure), talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Serkastin. Inform your doctor if you are using any other medication. Do not use a medication without your doctor’s knowledge. It can be harmful to your health.
- WHERE, HOW, AND FOR HOW LONG CAN I STORE THIS MEDICATION?
Store Serkastin in its original package, at room temperature (between 15ºC and 30ºC), and protect it from humidity.
Batch number, manufacture and expiration dates: see package.
Do not use a medication past its expiration date. Store it in its original package.
Serkastin tablets are white, round, and biconvex.
Before using it, observe the appearance of the medication. In case it has not expired yet but you notice a change in appearance, consult your pharmacist on whether you can use it or not.
All medications must be kept out of the reach of children.
- HOW SHOULD I USE THIS MEDICATION?
Always take Serkastin exactly as your doctor prescribed. You should talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have any question. Your doctor can adjust your dosage, depending on your progress. Keep taking the medication, because it may take a while before the effect begins to build up.
How to take this medication:
- Serkastin must be swollen by oral (mouth) administration with water.
- You can take Serkastin with or without food. However, Serkastin can cause mild stomach problems (see WHAT HARM CAN THIS MEDICATION CAUSE?).
Taking Serkastin with food may help reduce the stomach problems.
When to take the medication:
The recommended dosage of Serkastin for adults are:
- Serkastin 24 mg: one tablet twice a day.
If you have to take more than one tablet a day, distribute your tablet intake throughout the day. For instance, take one tablet in the morning and one at night.
Try to take your tablet at the same time everyday. This habit will keep a constant amount of the medication in your body. Taking it at the same time will also help you remember to take your tablets.
Elderly People
No dose adjustment is necessary for elderly people.
Children
Serkastin is not recommended for patients under the age of 18.
Patients with liver and/or kidney problems
No results are available from clinical trials with this group of patients taking this medication, though according to the post-marketing experience no dose adjustment is necessary.
Follow your doctor’s instructions, always observing the treatment times, doses, and duration.
Do not discontinue the treatment without your doctor’s consent.
- WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I FORGET TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION?
In case you forget to take a dose of Serkastin, ignore the missed dose and just take the next dose at the usual time, following the recommended dose scheme normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
If you have any questions, search for your pharmacist or your doctor’s instructions.
- WHAT HARM CAN THIS MEDICATION CAUSE?
As with all medications, Serkastin may cause adverse reactions, even though it does not happen to everyone. The following adverse reactions may occur when using this medication:
Allergic reactions
If you have an allergic reaction, stop taking Serkastin and go to your doctor or go to hospital right away. The signs can include:
- red and irregular skin rash, or itching inflamed skin;
- swelling on the face, lips, tongue, or neck;
- blood pressure decrease;
- loss of consciousness;
- difficulty breathing.
Other adverse reactions include:
Common reactions (affecting between 1% and 10% of patients using this medication):
- Indigestion (dyspepsia);
- Headache, and
- Feeling of malaise (nausea).
Other adverse reactions that have been reported when using Serkastin: mild stomach problems such as vomiting, stomach ache, and bloating (abdominal distension). Taking Serkastin with food helps reducing these stomach problems.
If you notice any adverse reactions not mentioned in this package insert, or if any of the adverse reactions worsens, inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist about any undesirable reactions from using this medication.
Also report them to the company through their customer service.
- WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE USES A LARGER AMOUNT OF THIS MEDICATION THAN AS INDICATED?
There have been few cases of overdose. Some patients have exhibited moderate symptoms with doses of up to 640 mg, such as nausea, sleepiness, and abdominal pain. More serious complications (e.g., seizures and heart and lung complications) were observed in cases of an intentional overdose, particularly in combination with other medications administered as an overdose. Overdose treatment should include conventional support measures.
Batch, manufacture date, and expiration date: see outer package.
Manufactured by:
EUROFARMA LABORATÓRIOS S.A.
Rod. Pres. Castelo Branco km 35.6
Itapevi – SP