The Epley Maneuver versus Betahistine in Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is considered the most common cause of vertigo. The necessity for early and effective management resulted in the improvement of the patient’s life quality. The objective was to compare the efficacy between Epley’s maneuver and betahistine dihydrochloride in BPPV treatment. Patients and Methods: A prospective follow-up comparative study on 60 patients with BPPV, who diagnosed with a positive Dix–Hallpike test, were divided equally and randomly into two groups; Group “A” treated with Epley’s maneuver and Group “B” treated with betahistine dihydrochloride. The efficacy of each modality was assessed, regarding the sense of vertigo and its associated symptoms, data of vertigo scales as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Results: There were 23 males (38.33%), and 37 females (61.66%), with mean age (54 ± 7.521) years. The total vertigo improvement was (78.33%); being (93.33%) in group “A” and (63.33%) in group “B”, nausea and vomiting symptoms improvement was (76.66%) in group “A”, and (70%) in group “B”. The baseline VAS score in Group “A” (7.69 ± 1.235 SD) and in Group “B” (6.35 ± 3.267 SD) after treatment improved to 0.56 ± 0.731 SD and 1.86 ± 1.375 SD, respectively, as well as the baseline DHI value in Group “A” (51.86 ± 23.583 SD) and in Group “B” (49.37 ± 18.152 SD) then improved to 2.31 ± 3.986 and 7.98 ± 9.512 SD, respectively. Conclusions: The Epley maneuver was more effective and “statistically significant” in relieving vertigo, and both the VAS and DHI scales compared to betahistine, while regarding associated nausea and vomiting symptoms, it shows no statically significant difference.