Vestibular disorders: betahistine mechanism: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

ENT · Vestibular disorders: betahistine mechanism

Sample item

Betahistine is prescribed to reduce the frequency of attacks in Meniere disease. What is its main pharmacological action?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist

Betahistine is a histamine analogue acting as a weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist, which is thought to improve labyrinthine microcirculation and vestibular compensation. H1 blockers such as dimenhydrinate, calcium channel blockers such as cinnarizine and muscarinic blockers such as hyoscine act as vestibular suppressants instead.

Option by option

  • A. Calcium channel blocker

    Calcium channel blockade is the mechanism of cinnarizine and flunarizine.

  • B. Muscarinic antagonist

    Muscarinic blockade is the mechanism of hyoscine used in motion sickness.

  • C. Weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist (correct)

    Correct. Betahistine is a weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist, not a suppressant.

  • D. H1 receptor antagonist

    H1 antagonism is the action of dimenhydrinate and similar vestibular suppressants.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist. Betahistine is a histamine analogue acting as a weak H1 agonist and H3 antagonist, which is thought to improve labyrinthine microcirculation and vestibular compensation.

Why is "Calcium channel blocker" not the answer?

Calcium channel blockade is the mechanism of cinnarizine and flunarizine.

Why is "Muscarinic antagonist" not the answer?

Muscarinic blockade is the mechanism of hyoscine used in motion sickness.

Why is "H1 receptor antagonist" not the answer?

H1 antagonism is the action of dimenhydrinate and similar vestibular suppressants.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Vestibular disorders: betahistine mechanism in ENT. H1 blockers such as dimenhydrinate, calcium channel blockers such as cinnarizine and muscarinic blockers such as hyoscine act as vestibular suppressants instead.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Vestibular disorders: betahistine mechanism?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.