Case Report Describes Possible Betahistine–Suicidality Link

A single case report described suicidal ideation that resolved after betahistine discontinuation and recurred after rechallenge, but the findings cannot establish causality or quantify risk.

By
Andrea Surnit
June 27, 2026
4 min

MDSpire News

Objective:

To describe a possible association between betahistine exposure and depressive symptoms with suicidal ideation.

Approach:

Case Report: A 33-year-old male patient treated for dizziness experienced depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation after betahistine treatment.
Literature Review: The researchers reviewed prior database-level signals and adverse event reports related to betahistine.

Key Findings:

The patient developed low mood and suicidal ideation after rechallenging with betahistine.
Symptoms resolved completely within 2 days of discontinuing betahistine.
The adverse drug reaction was classified as 'probable' based on established assessment scales.

Interpretation:

The researchers noted the close temporal association between betahistine use and the emergence of depressive symptoms.

Limitations:

Single-case design limits generalizability.
Inability to establish definitive causality.
Potential recall bias and lack of structured psychiatric assessment.

Conclusion:

The authors emphasized vigilance for neuropsychiatric adverse reactions to histamine receptor-active drugs, as symptoms may occur close to treatment initiation.