Active ingredient: betahistine dihydrochloride

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using SERC. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using SERC.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using SERC?
2. What should I know before I use SERC?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use SERC?
5. What should I know while using SERC?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using SERC?

SERC contains the active ingredient betahistine dihydrochloride. SERC works by improving the blood flow of the inner ear and restoring it to normal. It also acts on the nerve endings in the inner ear to normalise the way in which the nerves respond to outside influences.

SERC is used to treat a disorder of your inner ear. This disorder may include one or more of the following symptoms, in one or both ears:

• ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• loss of clear hearing
• problems with balance (vertigo)

These symptoms may also be associated with nausea, vomiting and headache. Often these symptoms together are referred to as Meniere’s Syndrome.

2. What should I know before I use SERC?

Warnings

Do not use SERC if:

• you are allergic to betahistine dihydrochloride, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
• Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
• Do not give SERC to a child under the age of 18 years.
• Do not take SERC if you have a rare abnormality of the adrenal gland known as phaeochromocytoma.
• Do not take SERC if you have or have had a peptic ulcer.
• Do not take SERC if the packaging is damaged or shows signs of tampering.

Check with your doctor if you:

• Have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
  – a peptic ulcer
  – asthma
  – a history of allergic skin conditions

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.

Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant.

It may affect your developing baby if you take it during pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.

Do not breastfeed if you are taking this medicine.

The active ingredient in SERC may pass into breast milk and therefore there is a possibility your baby may be affected.

This medicine is not addictive.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines and SERC may interfere with each other These include:

• any anti-histamine medications, which are used to treat allergies and allergic reactions

These medicines may be affected by SERC, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or take different medicines.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect SERC.

4. How do I use SERC?

How much to take

• The usual adult starting dose is half to one tablet taken three times a day.
• However, your doctor may prescribe a different dose depending on the severity of your condition.
• Follow the instructions provided and continue taking SERC as long as your doctor tells you.
• If you follow your doctor’s instructions, SERC should start working within a few days, although in some cases it may take a few weeks. The length of time that you should take SERC tablets varies from patient to patient. Some patients respond rapidly to treatment and others may take some time. Please be patient with your treatment and take your tablets regularly.

When to take SERC

• Take SERC at about the same time each day.
• Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it.
• Take SERC during or immediately after a meal.
• If you take SERC on an empty stomach, it may cause stomach upsets.

How to take SERC

• Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.

If you forget to take SERC

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine as you would normally.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

This may increase the chance of getting an unwanted side effect.

If you use too much SERC

If you think that you have used too much SERC, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (Australia telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Symptoms of an overdose may include nausea.

5. What should I know while using SERC?

Things you should do

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon that you are taking this medicine.

Call your doctor straight away if you:

• if you become pregnant while you are taking this medicine

Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using SERC.

Things you should not do

• Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly, or change the dosage, without checking with your doctor.
• Do not use this medicine to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
• Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Driving or using machines

SERC is indicated for Meniere’s syndrome with symptoms of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus which can negatively affect the ability to drive and use machines.

SERC is shown to have no or negligible effects to affect the ability to drive.

Looking after your medicine

• Keep your tablets in the pack until it is time to take them.
• If you take the tablets out of the box or the blister pack they may not keep well.

Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.

Store it in a cool dry place below 30°C away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date.

6. Are there any side effects?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking SERC.

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

More common side effects

Serious side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What SERC contains

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What SERC looks like

SERC 16 mg tablets are uncoated round, biconvex, scored, white to almost white with bevelled edges, one side inscribed with “267” on either side of the score (AUST R 61687).

Who distributes SERC

Viatris Pty Ltd
Level 1, 30 The Bond
30-34 Hickson Road
Millers Point NSW 2000
www.viatris.com.au
Phone: 1800 274 276

This leaflet was prepared in March 2022.

SERC® is a Viatris company trade mark

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