Can Betahistine cause shortness of breath and pleural effusion?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have scrutinized both views of your chest X-ray (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity)and can assure you that the lung fields are absolutely clear. However, the lowermost edges of the lungs (known as posterior costophrenic (CP) angles) do not appear sharp; that is, they are obscured by dense opacity. That could represent a small amount of pleural effusion, that is, fluid collection around the lungs.

Since you have not mentioned any other symptom than shortness of breath, I can not evaluate or explain right at this moment why you had effusion. Bilateral pleural effusion can sometimes represent systemic problems like heart, liver, or kidney problems, or maybe there is some inflammatory change in the pleurae themselves.

I would suggest you consult your internal medicine specialist, also known as an internist, who can make an overall assessment of your health and advise you further. Until then, I would suggest you not be worried — you are a young, healthy man, and perhaps the X-ray finding is a transient matter.

Wishing you all the best, and we are always open to addressing your queries whenever they arise.

Best regards.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Betahistine itself is reported to produce some breathing difficulty by way of allergic reaction to the drug. I think that can produce some effusion too. So, since your breathing problems started after taking the drug, I consider it logical to get back to your concerned doctor and discuss whether you could do with an alternate.

In fact, drug side effects affect different people in different ways, and sometimes it may be some trial and error to pick the one that is best for you. I hope your concerned doctor will guide you through those steps.

I hope you find the information useful, and we are always eager to hear from you.

Best regards.