Betahistine is a treatment for dizziness and hearing problems. It has a strange history and in the United States, Serc is in the possibly unique position of being a substance categorized as a placebo by the FDA, that nevertheless is generally obtained by taking an ordinary prescription to the pharmacy and getting it filled. See the main Betahstine page if you are wondering what this is all about.
While in the past it was difficult to obtain betahistine, now it can be purchased rather easily at Walgreen's pharmacies. The cost at Walgreens is very reasonable, and in our experience, roughly 1/3 of the price at the compounding pharmacies where one used to have to go.
The process at Walgreens is that you take in your prescription to the pharmacy. When the technician at the front desk says that they don't carry it, ask for it to be special ordered through the Walgreens compounding service.
This works very well.
In
the Chicago, Illinois area, betahistine is also available from many compounding pharmacies:
Keefer's
pharmacy Martin
Avenue Pharmacy
5
W. Prospect Ave. 10
W. Martin Ave
Mt. Prospect IL, 60056 Naperville, IL 60540
847-253-1031,
847-255-3220 630-355-6400,
630-355-6522
info@martinavenue.com
NuCara Pharmacy
101
W. Vallette St
Elmhurst,
IL 60126
630-834-1223,
630-834-6643 (f)
Indiana:
South
Bend, Mar-Main Pharmacy (574-234-3184)
Crown
Point Indiana, Custome Dosing Pharmacy, (219-662-5602)
The
cost from these sources is about $50/100 capsules. Other compounding pharmacies
that I have been told about also can make up Betahistine. At the Martin Avenue
Pharmacy, at least one patient managed to get it covered by his insurance, and
the cost for a large dose went from $100 to $10/month.
Another
large compounding pharmacy that will take orders from out of state is:
Westlab Pharmacy in
Gainesville
Fla., 1-800-493-7852, FAX 352-373-8099, Info@westlabpharmay.com, $39.99/100 8mg pills and $68.99 for 100 16 mg pills.
Serc
(betahistine) can easily be obtained from overseas pharmacies. This form of
Serc comes in commercial tablets in little blister packets, instead of in
gelatin capsules made up individually by the compounding pharmacist. It seems
likely that this source may be more consistent than that available in
compounding pharmacies, and also it may be less costly.
at 1-877-948-0464. 70 Esna Park,
Markham,
Ontario, Tel: (416) 410-9222 or (905) 948-1991,
$35/100 8mg pills plus mailing costs.
3. Canadadrugs (http://www.canadadrugs.com),
sells generic 16 mg Betahistine for $35.81.
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