Efficacy and Tolerability of a Fixed Combination of Cinnarizine and Dimenhydrinate versus Betahistine in the Treatment of Otogenic Vertigo : A Double-Blind, Randomised Clinical Study

Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Combination of Cinnarizine 20 mg and Dimenhydrinate 40 mg in the Treatment of Patients with Vestibular Vertigo: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Randomised, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trials

Background and Objective

The source data of four individual randomised, double-blind, reference- and/or placebo-controlled clinical trials with virtually identical study design were pooled for the present meta-analysis. The main objective was to further evaluate the efficacy and safety of the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg in comparison to various other antivertigo treatments in patients suffering from central and/or peripheral vestibular vertigo.

Methods

Adult male and female outpatients were subjected to a 4-week treatment with the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg, cinnarizine (20 mg, 50 mg), dimenhydrinate (40 mg, 100 mg), betahistine dimesylate (12 mg), betahistine dihydrochloride (16 mg) and placebo, respectively. The primary efficacy endpoint was the reduction of a validated mean vertigo score (MVS), a composite score of 12 individual vertigo symptoms, the intensities of which were each evaluated by the patients on a 5-point visual analogue scale. For analysis of primary and further secondary efficacy endpoints, baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to calculate adjusted least squares means (LSM) with associated two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the difference in MVS reductions between treatment groups. Moreover, various sensitivity analyses, responder and subgroup analyses as well as descriptive analyses with respect to safety/tolerability of the treatments were conducted.

Results

Of 795 randomised patients, 779 belonged to the intent-to treat (ITT) and 723 to the per-protocol (PP) population. The main efficacy analysis was based on the ITT population (mean age 52.1 years, 61% female). The mean decrease of the MVS from baseline to Week 4 in the cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate group (−1.10) proved to be significantly larger than in any of the comparator groups. LSM differences for comparators versus the fixed combination ranged between 0.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03; 0.30, p = 0.017) for cinnarizine 20 mg and 0.60 (95% CI 0.42; 0.78; p < 0.001) for betahistine dimesylate 12 mg in favour of the fixed combination. Furthermore, after 4 weeks of treatment, 74 patients (24.7%) in the cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate group were completely symptom free (MVS = 0), a significantly greater proportion than in any of the comparator groups. Sensitivity analyses showed that baseline characteristics such as age, sex, duration of vertigo and antivertigo pretreatment had only a very minor and clinically non-relevant impact on the efficacy results regarding the primary efficacy outcome. Subgroup analyses with respect to age groups (< 65 years/≥ 65 years) and sex showed no significant differences in efficacy within any of the treatment groups. All treatments were well tolerated. A total of 55 patients (6.9%) reported 75 non-serious adverse events (AEs), and 19 patients (2.4%) discontinued the study prematurely because of AEs. Nearly 95% of the patients (cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate group: 97.9%) rated the tolerability of the study medications as either “good” or “very good”.

Conclusion

The findings of the present meta-analysis indicate that the fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate is a safe and potentially superior treatment option for patients suffering from central and/or peripheral vestibular vertigo, as compared to current standard treatments such as cinnarizine, dimenhydrinate or betahistine given alone in monotherapy.

Current Insights into Treating Vertigo in Older Adults

The number of older people has been increasing over recent decades in Western populations. Dizziness, imbalance, and vertigo constitute some of the most common complaints in older patients, and risk of falling is the most frequent and worrying consequence. It has been reported that 15–20% of the adult population experiences these debilitating symptoms. Among the diseases that may be associated with vertigo, the three classes of otological, central, and functional (psychological) dizziness may be distinguished. Overall, vestibular disorders account for 48% of vertiginous complaints in the older population. The main focus of this article is to review the forms of pharmacotherapy for vertigo, especially with regard to older patients, who may be treated simultaneously with other drugs for different comorbidities. Interactions with other drugs should be considered in the choice of a particular course of treatment. Moreover, overuse of pharmacotherapy for the management of vertigo in the elderly may prevent the development of the central compensatory mechanism that sustains both static and dynamic imbalance after a vertiginous crisis. In the majority of patients, vestibular and physical rehabilitation are strongly advised and rarely contraindicated.

The Mean Vertigo Score (MVS) Outcome Scale and Its Use in Clinical Research for Quantifying Vestibular Disorders

Introduction: The Mean Vertigo Score (MVS) is a composite score for defining the burden of disease of patients suffering from vestibular disorders. It has been used in clinical research for about 30 years. This study investigates discriminant validity of the MVS and describes structural relationships of the 12 single criteria used for construction of the MVS. Materials and Methods: The statistical analyses are based on the raw data of an earlier conducted randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which compared the following four randomized treatment groups: a fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate (Arlevert), two groups with only one of the two study drugs, and a group with placebo. The method used for the statistical calculations is the Wei-Lachin procedure, a multivariate generalization of the Mann-Whitney test, which takes into account correlations among the 12 single symptoms of the composite score. Results: All 12 single symptoms of the composite endpoint proved to be useful for detecting differences (Mann-Whitney effect size measures: 0.58-0.73) and thus for discriminating between treatment groups. Their Pearson product-moment correlations are all positive (range 0.07-0.71) and point to the same direction, which indicates one-dimensionality and good internal consistency of the composite index MVS. Furthermore, our statistical calculations revealed that successively increasing the number of single items of the MVS to up to twelve enhances its reliability (R ₁₂ = 0.923), which leads to a substantially higher test power and reduction of the number of patients needed (sample size) in a clinical trial. Conclusion: The use of the multivariate Wei-Lachin procedure provides further evidence of the validity of the 12-item composite score MVS, based on the efficacy data of its 12 single vertigo symptoms. The present findings demonstrate that the MVS is a powerful tool, which can be used to adequately describe the patients' self-perceived vertigo complaints, both qualitatively and quantitatively. It may therefore be regarded as a clinically meaningful alternative to other questionnaires that are presently used in vestibular research.

Efficacy and Pharmacological Appropriateness of Cinnarizine and Dimenhydrinate in the Treatment of Vertigo and Related Symptoms

Vertigo is not itself a disease, but rather a symptom of various syndromes and disorders that jeopardize balance function, which is essential for daily activities. It is an abnormal sensation of motion that usually occurs in the absence of motion, or when a motion is sensed inaccurately. Due to the complexity of the etiopathogenesis of vertigo, many pharmacological treatments have been tested for efficacy on vertigo. Among these drugs, cinnarizine, usually given together with dimenhydrinate, appears to be the first-line pharmacotherapy for the management of vertigo and inner ear disorders. Based on these considerations, the present non-interventional study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of cinnarizine (20 mg) and dimenhydrinate (40 mg) in patients suffering from vertigo-related symptoms. To this end, we enrolled 120 adults-70 males, and 50 females-with an average age of 64 years. Before beginning pharmacological treatment, all patients were screened for the intensity of vertigo, dizziness, and concomitant symptoms through the Visual Scale of Dizziness Disorders and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scales. At the end of the anamnestic evaluation, patients received the fixed-dose combination of cinnarizine (20 mg) plus dimenhydrinate (40 mg) 3 times daily, for 60 days. The results of this study provide further insight regarding the efficacy of the fixed combination when used to reduce symptoms of vestibular vertigo of central and/or peripheral origin, after both the 15- and 60-day therapies. Independent of the type of vertigo, the fixed combination was able to reduce dizziness- and vertigo-associated symptoms in more than 75% of all patients treated, starting from 15 days of therapy, and improving 60 days after starting the therapy. Interestingly, we also found differences between male and female patients in the framework of the pharmacological effects of therapy. This study provides further details concerning the therapeutic efficacy of the fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate, and also focuses attention on the possibility that these drugs could act in a gender-specific manner, paving the way for further research.

The Impact of Betahistine versus Dimenhydrinate in the Resolution of Residual Dizziness in Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of betahistine with dimenhydrinate on the resolution of residual dizziness (RD) of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) after successful Epley maneuver.

Methods:

In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, patients with posterior semicircular canal type of BPPV were included. After execution of the Epley maneuver, patients were assigned randomly to one group for 1 week: betahistine, dimenhydrinate or placebo. The primary outcomes were scores of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and the modified Berg balance scale (mBBS). All patients were asked to describe the characteristics of their subjective residual symptoms. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the predictors of improved RD. All analyses were conducted using SPSS 19.0.

Results:

In total, 117 patients (age range: 20-65 years) participated in this study. After the Epley maneuver, 88 participants had RD. After the intervention, 38 patients exhibited an improved RD. Less than 50% of participants in the three groups showed mild to moderate dizziness handicap. However, there was no significant difference between mBBS scores of groups before or after the intervention. Logistic regression was shown that patients with receiving betahistine were 3.18 times more likely to have no RD than the placebo group. Increasing age was associated with a decreased likelihood of improving RD ( P = .05).

Conclusion:

The analysis of data showed that the use of betahistine had more effect on improving RD symptoms. We recommended future studies using objective indicators of residual dizziness.

Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed Combination of Cinnarizine 20 mg and Dimenhydrinate 40 mg vs Betahistine Dihydrochloride 16 mg in Patients with Peripheral Vestibular Vertigo: A Prospective, Multinational, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Non-inferiority Clinical Trial

Background and Objective

Vertigo derived from peripheral vestibular disorders is quite frequently encountered in daily clinical practice and can be a severely disabling symptom associated with substantial impairment of health-related quality of life for the affected patients. Betahistine, a structural analogue of histamine and presumably the most widely prescribed anti-vertigo drug worldwide, has previously been shown to be an effective and safe treatment for these patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate (Arlevert^®) is non-inferior and thus a potentially useful alternative to betahistine dihydrochloride in the treatment of patients suffering from peripheral vestibular vertigo.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, non-inferiority clinical trial, outpatients from 8 ENT clinics in Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Russia were randomly assigned to receive three times daily one tablet of either the fixed combination cinnarizine 20 mg/dimenhydrinate 40 mg or betahistine dihydrochloride 16 mg for 4 weeks. Primary endpoint was the reduction of the mean vertigo score (MVS), a validated 12-item composite score defined as the mean of 6 vertigo symptoms (dystasia and walking unsteadiness, staggering, rotary sensation, tendency to fall, lift sensation, blackout) and 6 trigger factors for vertigo (change of position, bowing, getting up, driving by car/train, head movements, eye movement), after 4 weeks of therapy, as judged by the patient on a 5-point visual analogue scale (VAS). The non-inferiority margin was set to 0.3. Secondary outcomes included the patient’s and investigator’s judgment of global efficacy, the patient’s rating of impairment of daily activities, and safety/tolerability of the treatments.

Results

Three hundred and six patients (mean age 53.5 years, approximately 60% female) were enrolled and randomized to the fixed combination cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate (n = 152) or betahistine (n = 154) groups; 297 patients completed the study and 294 (146 and 148, respectively) were valid for the per-protocol analysis, which was used for the non-inferiority analysis. Treatment with cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate led to a stronger reduction of the MVS [least squares mean (LSM)] after 4-week therapy (primary endpoint) in comparison to betahistine (0.395 vs 0.488; difference: − 0.093, 95% CI − 0.180; − 0.007, p = 0.035); since the upper limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval was not only below the non-inferiority margin of 0.3, but also entirely below 0, superiority of the fixed combination could be demonstrated. The combination preparation was also more effective after 1 week of therapy and received more favorable patient’s ratings on overall efficacy and impairment of daily activities. Both treatments were very well tolerated. Only 12 patients (3.92%) reported 13 non-serious adverse events; 2 cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate-treated patients discontinued the study prematurely due to adverse events as compared to 5 betahistine-treated patients.

Conclusion

The fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg was found to be not only non-inferior, but superior to betahistine 16 mg in the improvement of peripheral vestibular vertigo. Furthermore, taking into account a good and slightly favorable safety profile, the present study provides evidence that the fixed-combination preparation is a potent and even superior alternative to betahistine in the treatment of vertigo related to peripheral vestibular disorders.

Study Registration

EudraCT No. 2011-004025-27.

Management of peripheral vertigo with antihistamines: New options on the horizon

Vertigo is associated with a wide range of vestibular pathologies. It increasingly affects the elderly, with a high cost to society. Solutions include vestibular suppressants and vestibular rehabilitation, which form the mainstay of therapy. Antihistamines represent the largest class of agents used to combat vestibular vertigo symptoms. Agents targeting the H₁ and H₃ receptors have been in clinical use for several decades as single agents. Nonetheless, effective management of vertigo proves elusive as many treatments largely address only associated symptoms, and with questionable efficacy. Additionally, the primary and limiting side effect of sedation is counterproductive to normal functioning and the natural recovery process occurring via central compensation. To address these issues, the timing of administration of betahistine, the mainstay H₃ antihistamine, can be fine-tuned, while bioavailability is also being improved. Other approaches include antihistamine combination studies, devices, physical therapy and behavioural interventions. Recently demonstrated expression of H₄ receptors in the peripheral vestibular system represents a new potential drug target for treating vestibular disorders. A number of novel selective H₄ antagonists are active in vestibular models in vivo. The preclinical potential of SENS-111 (Seliforant), an oral first-in-class selective H₄ antagonist is the only such molecule to date to be translated into the clinical setting. With an excellent safety profile and notable absence of sedation, encouraging outcomes in an induced vertigo model in healthy volunteers have led to ongoing clinical studies in acute unilateral vestibulopathy, with the hope that H₄ antagonists will offer new effective therapeutic options to patients suffering from vertigo.

Can a Traditional Korean Manual Therapy Be a Complementary and Alternative Strategy for Cervicogenic Dizziness? A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Cervicogenic dizziness is dizziness triggered by movement or positioning of the cervical spine and is often accompanied by neck pain or stiffness. This is a prospective, pragmatic, assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial aimed at testing the efficacy and safety of adjuvant Chuna Manual Therapy (CMT) in patients with cervicogenic dizziness under usual care treatments. Fifty patients with cervicogenic dizziness will be randomly allocated to CMT or usual care (UC) groups in a 1 : 1 ratio. Extensive screening procedures, including examinations for central nervous system problems and nystagmus, will be applied to exclude other dizziness-inducing disorders. The eligible participants will receive 12 sessions of CMT plus UC or only UC over 6 weeks. CMT includes mandatory and discretionary techniques, whereas UC includes electrotherapy, thermotherapy, and patient education. The efficacy will be evaluated primarily as Dizziness Handicap Inventory score. The severity and frequency of dizziness, the level of neck pain or stiffness, and the cervical range of motion will also be evaluated. Safety will be assessed by adverse events. The data will be statistically analyzed at p < 0.05. Trial Registration. This trial was registered with Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) in Korea, KCT0002565, on 29 November 2017, https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_kren.jsp?seq=9610<ype=&rtype=.

Antivertiginous drug therapy does not hinder the efficacy of individualized vibrotactile neurofeedback training for vestibular rehabilitation - a randomized trial

Vestibular rehabilitation using individualized vibrotactile neurofeedback training (IVNT) can lead to significant improvement in the postural stability of patients with vestibular symptoms of different origins. However, some of these patients have complex, severe dizziness, meaning that a pharmacological pretreatment or parallel (to vestibular rehabilitation) treatment can help them perform the rehabilitation exercises. Hence, the present study investigated the influence of a pharmacological treatment on the efficacy of vibrotactile neurofeedback training in patients with chronic, noncompensated vestibulopathies. All participants performed IVNT for ∼10 min each day for 2 weeks. In addition, every second participant was selected randomly to receive oral medication (20 mg cinnarizine and 40 mg dimenhydrinate per tablet), taking three tables per day. Trunk and ankle sway and postural stability were measured. In addition, the dizziness handicap inventory was evaluated immediately before training on the last day of training and 6 months after training. After the 10-day period of IVNT, both groups showed a statistically significant improvement in all parameters tested. A follow-up analysis after 6 months showed a long-term efficacy for the IVNT, that is, the patients remained significantly improved in their postural stability. The antivertiginous therapy did not hinder the efficacy of the IVNT. The present results indicate that IVNT even in combination with an antivertiginous drug therapy is an effective treatment regime for patients with disabling vertigo of different origins.

A Herbal Medicine, Gongjindan, in Subjects with Chronic Dizziness (GOODNESS Study): Study Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Clinical Trial for Effectiveness, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness

This study protocol aims to explore the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of a herbal medication, Gongjindan (GJD), in patients with chronic dizziness. This will be a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, clinical trial. Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with Meniere's disease, psychogenic dizziness, or dizziness of unknown cause will be randomized and allocated to either a GJD or a placebo group in a 1 : 1 ratio. Participants will be orally given 3.75 g GJD or placebo in pill form once a day for 56 days. The primary outcome measure will be the Dizziness Handicap Inventory score. Secondary outcome measures will be as follows: severity (mean vertigo scale and visual analogue scale) and frequency of dizziness, balance function (Berg Balance Scale), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale) and deficiency pattern/syndrome (qi blood yin yang-deficiency questionnaire) levels, and depression (Korean version of Beck's Depression Inventory) and anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) levels. To assess safety, adverse events, including laboratory test results, will be monitored. Further, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio will be calculated based on quality-adjusted life years (from the EuroQoL five dimensions' questionnaire) and medical expenses. Data will be statistically analyzed at a significance level of 0.05 (two-sided). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03219515, in July 2017.

Cinnarizine: A Contemporary Review

Cinnarizine, is approved for nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, inner ear disorders and is considered as first-line pharmacotherapy for management of vertigo. It acts by anti-vasoconstrictor activity, reducing blood viscosity and reducing nystagmus in labyrinth. Lack of adequate literature on clinical evidence of cinnarizine and its combination (dimenhydrinate) in vertigo management prompted this review. A specific MEDLINE literature search strategy was designed combining Medical Subject Headings, free-text keywords (like cinnarizine and vertigo) using Boolean operators (1970-2016) for clinical studies, clinical reviews and meta-analyses of cinnarizine. Analyses of studies validated cinnarizine's efficacy in peripheral and central vertigo versus placebo or other therapies, and was well-tolerated by the patients recruited across different studies. Cinnarizine and/ or its combinations are favorable in management of vestibular disorders wherein cinnarizine acts predominantly peripherally on labyrinth and dimenhydrinate acts centrally on vestibular nuclei and associated centers in brainstem. Combination therapy of cinnarizine and/ or its combinations demonstrated a better safety profile than either of the mono-components, offering a viable therapeutic option in vertigo management.

Cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of vertigo in medical practice

The efficacy and safety of the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg in the treatment of vertigo of various origins have been investigated in a prospective, noninterventional study involving private practices throughout Germany. A total of 1275 patients with an average age of 61.2 years participated in the study. The vertigo symptoms, measured by a validated mean vertigo score (primary efficacy endpoint) improved by 61 % in the course of the observational period (median: 6 weeks). Concomitant symptoms frequently associated with vertigo such as nausea, vomiting and tinnitus were also markedly reduced by 84, 85 and 51 %, respectively. Overall efficacy has been rated by the physicians as 'very much improved' or 'much improved' in 95 % of the patients. A total of 47 patients (3.7 %) reported 51 adverse drug reactions (all nonserious). The results indicate a good tolerability and efficacy of the fixed combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of vertigo in daily medical practice, which is in line with previous findings of numerous interventional, randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trials.

Comparison of the therapeutic efficacy of a fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate with betahistine in vestibular neuritis: a randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study

BACKGROUND

Vestibular neuritis (VN) is a strongly disabling disease of the peripheral vestibular system. Rapid and effective relief of symptoms is important to allow patients to promptly return to normal physical activity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the efficacy of a fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate in unilateral VN in comparison with betahistine in terms of improvement of vertigo and concomitant symptoms, and performance in neurotological testing.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients were randomized to receive either cinnarizine 20 mg/dimenhydrinate 40 mg as a fixed combination or betahistine 12 mg, each three times daily for 4 weeks. Vertigo and concomitant symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), posturography and a battery of vestibulo-ocular tests, registered by electronystagmography including spontaneous nystagmus, bithermal caloric and rotatory test, among others, were assessed at baseline (t(0)), after 1 week (t(1w)) and after 4 weeks (t(4w)). The primary endpoint was the Mean Vertigo Score (MVS) at t(1w), a composite of 12 individual scores for unprovoked and provoked vertigo, each assessed using a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS). Non-inferiority of the fixed combination versus betahistine would be assumed if the two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for between-group differences in MVS lay entirely below the non-inferiority margin of 1.25 (12.5% of VAS range).

RESULTS

The fixed combination led to significantly greater improvements in MVS than betahistine both at t(1w) (primary endpoint) and at t(4w) (95% CI for the difference in baseline-adjusted means -0.95, -0.64 at t(1w), -0.77, -0.44 at t(4w); p < 0.001). Vegetative symptoms and ADL also improved significantly more under the fixed combination than under betahistine at t(1w) (p < 0.001, each parameter) and t(4w) (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively), both showing a nearly complete remission at t(4w). In the two groups, pathological posturography and electronystagmography parameters normalized during the 4-week treatment. The fixed combination group showed an earlier recovery of spontaneous nystagmus than the betahistine group (t(1w), p < 0.001) and slightly higher improvements in asymmetry of rotation-induced nystagmus at t(1w) and t(4w) (p = 0.041, each time point). No significant differences were found between the treatments in abatement of spontaneous nystagmus at t(4w) and decrease of caloric lateralization or improvement of equilibrium (sensory organization test [SOT], conditions 5/6) at t(1w) and t(4w). No patient reported any adverse event.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate is an effective and well tolerated option for symptomatic treatment in unilateral VN. The fixed combination led to significant improvements in vertigo and ADL within the first week, and to a nearly complete recovery after 4 weeks. Neurotological testing revealed no signs of a possible detrimental influence of the 4-week treatment with the fixed combination compared with betahistine in terms of recovery of caloric responsiveness and abatement of rotation-induced nystagmus.

Comparison of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate fixed combination with the respective monotherapies for vertigo of various origins: a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, multicentre study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Vertigo may arise from dysfunction in the peripheral and/or the central vestibular system. Simultaneous activity of a medication at both sites will serve to improve the efficacy of antivertigo treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of the peripherally acting cinnarizine (20 mg) plus the centrally acting dimenhydrinate (40 mg) with those of equally dosed monotherapies in the treatment of vertigo of various origins.

METHODS

This prospective, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, multicentre study included patients who assessed at least one vertigo symptom as being of at least medium intensity (≥2) on a 5-point visual analogue scale (VAS; ranging from 0 = not present to 4 = very strong) and who had pathological vestibulospinal movement patterns and/or nystagmus reactions. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either cinnarizine 20 mg/dimenhydrinate 40 mg as a fixed combination, cinnarizine 20 mg as monotherapy or dimenhydrinate 40 mg as monotherapy, each three times daily for 4 weeks. Patients were examined at baseline (t(0)), and after 1 week (t(1w)) and 4 weeks (t(4w)) of treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the decrease in mean vertigo score (MVS) at t(4w), which was calculated by averaging the total score for 12 individual vertigo symptoms, each assessed using the 5-point VAS.

RESULTS

The study included 182 patients, of whom 177 were evaluable for efficacy. The mean ± SD reduction in MVS after 4 weeks of treatment with the fixed combination (-1.44 ± 0.56) was significantly greater than the reductions with each of the active treatments alone (cinnarizine -1.04 ± 0.53; dimenhydrinate -1.06 ± 0.56; p = 0.0001, both comparisons). Cinnarizine 20 mg/dimenhydrinate 40 mg as a fixed combination was associated with a significantly higher responder rate (78% of patients with MVS ≤0.5 at t(4w)) than the monotherapies. The odds ratios for MVS ≤0.5 at t(4w) in the cinnarizine or dimenhydrinate groups versus the fixed combination group were 0.345 and 0.214, respectively. The fixed combination reduced concomitant vegetative symptoms significantly more effectively than cinnarizine at both t(1w) (p < 0.05) and t(4w) (p < 0.01). Nine patients reported 15 adverse events (AEs) [three AEs for the fixed combination, six AEs each for cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate]. At t(4w) the tolerability of the treatments was rated as very good or good by almost all patients in all groups (fixed combination and dimenhydrinate 96.6% each; cinnarizine 98.3%).

CONCLUSION

The fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg/dimenhydrinate 40 mg was an effective and well tolerated treatment for patients with vestibular vertigo of central and/or peripheral origin. The efficacy of the fixed combination exceeded that of each of the equally dosed active substances given as monotherapy, leading to higher responder rates, and showed a very good and comparable tolerability with a similar or even smaller rate of adverse events than the active substances given alone.

A fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate for the treatment of patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders : a randomized, reference-controlled clinical study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Vestibular dysfunction commonly leads to - often severe - vertigo symptoms. The objective of this study was to compare the antivertiginous efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate with those of betahistine in patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders.

METHODS

Sixty-six patients experiencing acute vertigo attacks participated in this prospective, double-blind, three-centre, comparative study. Patients who assessed at least one vertigo symptom as being of medium intensity (> or =2) on a 5-point visual analogue scale (VAS; from 0 = no symptoms to 4 = very severe symptoms) were randomly allocated to treatment with the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg three times daily or betahistine 12 mg three times daily for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in mean vertigo score, as determined by patients' assessments of 12 individual vertigo symptoms on the 5-point VAS after 4 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

Treatment with the fixed combination led to significantly greater improvements in mean vertigo scores than the reference therapy betahistine after 4 weeks of therapy (p = 0.013). The differences were clinically relevant, based on the Mann-Whitney estimator. Furthermore, the incidence of vertigo-associated vegetative symptoms was significantly reduced after 1 (p = 0.004) and 4 weeks (p = 0.023) in the fixed-combination group relative to the betahistine group. Three patients, all of them in the betahistine group, reported adverse events, none of which was considered serious. Almost all patients (n = 62) rated the tolerabilities of both medications as very good or good.

CONCLUSION

The fixed combination of cinnarizine/dimenhydrinate was shown to be an effective and very well tolerated treatment option for patients with acute vertigo due to vestibular disorders. The combination proved to be significantly more efficient in reducing vertigo and associated vegetative symptoms than betahistine in such patients.

Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of vertigo: a 4-week, randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled, parallel-group, outpatient study

BACKGROUND

Most cases of vertigo are attributable to both peripheral and central vestibular disorders. Therefore, it would be of interest to determine whether a combination therapy having both peripheral and central actions would translate into more efficient symptom relief.

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine 20 mg + dimenhydrinate 40 mg in the treatment of vertigo of central, peripheral, or combined central/peripheral origin.

METHODS

This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active- and placebo-controlled, parallel-group, outpatient study in men and women (age >30 years) with central, peripheral, or combined central/peripheral vestibular vertigo. Patients who assessed > or =1 vertigo symptom as being of medium intensity (> or =2) on a 5-point visual analog scale (from 0 = no symptoms to 4 = very severe symptoms) and who had abnormal vestibulospinal movement patterns on cramocorpography were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 tablet of the fixed combination of cinnarizine 20 mg + dimenhydrinate 40 mg, cinnarizine 50 mg, dimenhydrinate 100 mg, or placebo 3 times daily for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was the decrease in mean vertigo score (MVS), which was composed of 12 individual vertigo symptoms, each assessed on the 5-point visual analog scale after 4 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 246 patients, of whom 239 were evaluable for efficacy. Approximately two thirds of the efficacy population were female and one third male. The mean age was 51.3 years, and the mean duration of vertigo was 2.6 years. The least squares mean (SD) change from baseline in MVS was significantly greater in the group receiving the fixed combination (1.37 [0.66]) than in any of the comparator groups (cinnarizine 50 mg: 0.87 [0.53]; dimenhydrinate 100 mg: 0.83 [0.66]; placebo: 0.76 [0.48]; all comparisons, P < 0.001). The differences were clinically relevant, based on the Mann-Whitney estimator. The incidence of vertigo-associated nausea was significantly reduced in the fixed-combination group relative to the comparator groups (P< or = 0.016). Thirty-four patients reported adverse events, 6 each in the fixed combination and placebo groups, 12 in the cinnarizine group, and 10 in the dimenhydrinate group. None of these adverse events were considered serious. After 4 weeks of treatment, the tolerability of treatment was rated as very good or good by 57 (96.6%) patients in the fixed-combination group; the values for cinnarizine, dimenhydrinate, and placebo were 54 (93.1%), 42 (72.4%), and 50 (87.7%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the fixed low-dose combination of cinnarizine 20 mg + dimenhydrinate 40 mg was effective, clinically beneficial, and well tolerated in patients with vestibular vertigo of central and/or peripheral origin. It was significantly more effective in reducing the MVS compared with placebo and the routinely prescribed higher doses of cinnarizine (50 mg) and dimenhydrinate (100 mg).