Meniere’s Disease

Introduction

Meniere’s Disease is a disorder that causes unwanted fluid to build up in the inner ear, which then causes a host of issues. The fluid applies immense pressure to the organs that regulate our balance and hearing, and causes episodes of ringing in the ears (tinnitus), vertigo (feeling of spinning and loss of balance), and hearing loss. The symptoms, which also can include headaches, nausea, and aural fullness (when your ear feels like it’s plugged), can last through episodes that cover 20 minutes to a few hours.

There is no known cure for Meniere’s Disease so treatment focuses on managing these symptoms. It tends to strike men and women equally, and although it can occur at any age, it tends to first develop between the ages of 30 and 50. In most cases, only one ear is affected; only about 15 percent of those afflicted lose hearing in both ears.

How can compounds help?

Many patients can find relief, or quality management of their symptoms, through medication. At Lakeview Pharmacy, our compounding pharmacy custom blends a medication called Betahistine, a histamine agonist. This drug can be used to increase the blood flow around the inner ear region which should help decrease the rate at which fluid builds up and thus prevent symptoms from developing or alleviating their severity.

Whether you are suffering from Meniere’s Disease, or a similar vertigo-causing condition, your compounding pharmacist may be able to incorporate Betahistine into a treatment plan to provide relief from the worst of the symptoms and episodes.