Evaluation of flunarizine in patients with Menière's disease. Subjective and vestibular findings.

In an open multicentre pilot study, 32 patients affected with Menière's disease were treated with the cerebrally effective calcium antagonist flunarizine for 12 weeks. By means of the so-called vestibular index, the therapeutic results could be documented in a rapid and clear manner; the vestibular index takes into account both the subjective statements of the patients and objective pathological vestibular findings in terms of figures. The mean value of this vestibular index of 32 patients with Menière's disease was 9.5 before treatment and only 4.0 at the end of the therapy, which is indicative of a positive therapeutic effect. In the final evaluation, the action of flunarizine was generally considered very beneficial both by the attending physicians and the patients.