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(Stroke. 1975;6:116.)
© 1975 American Heart Association, Inc.

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A Comparison of Betahistine Hydrochloride With Placebo for Vertebral-Basilar Insufficiency: A Double-Blind Study

JAMES H. SPRUILL JR. M.D.¹; JAMES F. TOOLE M.D.¹; WILLIAM KITTO M.D.¹; HERSEY E. MILLER M.D.¹

¹ Department of Neurology and the Section of Otolaryngology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103

Department of Neurology

To test the effectiveness of betahistine HCl in reducing the frequency of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) caused by vertebral-basilar artery insufficiency, we randomly assigned 26 patients with a typical history of the condition to a placebo-drug or a drug-placebo sequence, each sequence lasting two months. During the study, the frequency of TIAs did not differ significantly between the placebo and the drug groups. Subjective responses indicated some value for betahistine as a palliative agent.

Note:

Dr. Kitto is Medical Director of the Unimed Corporation.

Key Words: transient ischemic attacks • random selection • palliative agent