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Ontario coverage, price, criteria word for word, Health Canada status and shortages for one product

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BETAHISTINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE

All products: not a benefit

Serc · DIN 02240601 · 8mg · tablet

Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2005-02-07 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.Discontinued 2005-02-07 · checked 2026-09-19
StatusOff-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2005-02-07 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Write on scriptnot a benefit; no Exceptional Access criteria on record; see alternatives; Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2005-02-07 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Patient paysPatient pays: program not supplied; amount cannot be determined.
Private plan unknown: ask. If yes, check its coverage and payer coordination; if no, see the public routes below.
Brand vs generic price
Lowest DBP recovery rule under medically necessary no-substitution claims: 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Side Effect Reporting Form will not have to be renewed. However, the pharmacy must maintain a copy of the prescription that contains a direction that there be no substitution and the required Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form (completed and signed by the prescriber). The prescriber must write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on renewal or subsequent new written prescriptions, and indicate “No Substitution” on subsequent new oral prescriptions. The dispenser will be reimbursed the DBP plus a mark-up and the lesser of the posted usual and customary fee or the ODB dispensing fee minus the applicable ODB co-payment amount. Where a completed Side Effect Reporting Form is not available at the pharmacy during an inspection, the difference between the cost of the higher-cost product and the lowest DBP listed for the interchangeable category will be recovered. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗) 6.2 Medically Necessary "No Substitution" Claims The Ministry will provide reimbursement of a higher-cost interchangeable product in medically necessary circumstances where a patient has experienced a significant adverse reaction with two (2) lower-cost interchangeable drug products, where available. When a prescriber identifies a patient for which it is medically necessary that a higher cost interchangeable product be provided, the prescriber must: • Complete, sign and forward to the pharmacist a copy of the Health Canada side effect reporting form for each lower-cost interchangeable drug product trialed (Side Effect Reporting Form[s]); and • Write “No Substitution” or “No Sub” on a written prescription or indicate “No Substitution” to the pharmacist in the case of a verbal prescription. The prescriber should keep a copy of the completed form in the patient’s record for future use and reference. In the case of a written prescription, when the pharmacist or dispensing physician receives a prescription with the written notation “No Substitution” or “No Sub”, reimbursement will be provided for the higher-cost interchangeable product only if the prescription is accompanied by a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed. This form must be completely filled out noting the details of the adverse reaction and signed by the prescriber. In the case of a verbal prescription, the prescriber must satisfy the operator of the pharmacy or dispensing physician that a completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form for each of the lower-cost interchangeable drug products trialed has been completed and signed by the prescriber. A written record of this verbal prescription and the completed Health Canada Side Effect Reporting Form must be received by the pharmacy prior to claim submission. Upon receipt, the pharmacist must: • Fax, submit online or mail the completed and signed form to Health Canada’s Canada Vigilance Program; and • Retain his or her copy of the completed and signed Side Effect Reporting Form. (ontario.ca, Revision #17; 2026-08-03 ↗)
Savings card: RxHelp ONE lists Serc (read 2026-09-10) — brand-name savings card, free; cannot be combined with another card on the same claim. (rxhelp.ca ↗)
1 brand, same coverage
Serc · DIN 02240601 Manufacturer: Solvay Pharma Inc.; listing date 2011-05-19 Health Canada: Cancelled post market since 2005-02-07 · brand SERC 8 MG · ATC N07CA01 BETAHISTINE · form Tablet · route Oral · ingredients BETAHISTINE HYDROCHLORIDE 8 MG/TAB · company Solvay pharma inc · schedule Prescription
Check this DIN again · Health Canada product record

Serc: Formulary list price not recorded/unit (unit not stated in source; not the patient's cost)

Formulary data: Ontario extract of Aug 26, 2026 · Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=64172 · Verify on the e-Formulary ↗ (DIN 02240601)

Source record
DIN 02240601: Serc Raw flags: sec3=Y, sec3b=Y Item: 241200077; group id 362; item number 0846; lccId None; manufacturer id SPH Source form: Tab; strength: 8mg Recorded listing: Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit Source prices (unrounded): not recorded; ministry not recorded Source: ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26 DIN=02240601 Health Canada DPD extract of Sep 2, 2026 (Open Government Licence – Canada) · https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/info?lang=eng&code=64172
Interchangeable products
Auro-Betahistine · DIN 02449145 · $0.2070 M-Betahistine · DIN 02519682 · $0.2259 Mint-Betahistine · DIN 02538121 · $0.2259 NRA-Betahistine · DIN 02544911 · $0.2259 Teva-Betahistine · DIN 02280183 · $0.2259
Shortage status: not checked (no credentials)
Health Canada lists this DIN as Cancelled post market since 2005-02-07 — choose a marketed DIN from the same-category list.
Other drugs in the same formulary class (24:12 Vasodilating Drugs) and how they are covered

Matched class: 24:12 Vasodilating Drugs

Drug-class inventory only. Lists recorded Ontario formulary products, not every Canadian medication; does not recommend treatment. Some products covered without a code (check the product listing): ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE, NITROGLYCERIN 24:12 Vasodilating Drugs

ISOSORBIDE DINITRATE

· 6 products · General benefit (3), Listed, not a benefit (3) · strengths: 5mg, 10mg, 30mg · SL Tab, Tab

NITROGLYCERIN

· 20 products · General benefit (13), Temporary benefit (2), Listed, not a benefit (1), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (4) · strengths: 0.4mg/Hr/20 Sq Cm, 0.6mg/Hr/30 Sq Cm, 0.4mg/Hr/14 Sq Cm, 0.6mg/Hr/21 Sq Cm, 0.3mg, 0.6mg, 0.4mg/Metered Dose, 0.2mg/Hr, 0.4mg/Hr, 0.6mg/Hr, 0.8mg/Hr · Patch, SL Tab, Sp-180 Dose Pk, Sp-75 Dose Pk, Spray-200 Dose Pk, Transdermal Patch

DIPYRIDAMOLE & ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID

· 2 products · Listed, not a benefit (1), Limited Use, codes 349 (1) · strengths: 200mg/25mg · Cap

NIMODIPINE

· 1 products · Limited Use, codes 42, 43 · strengths: 30mg · Tab

VERICIGUAT

· 3 products · Limited Use, codes 685 · strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg · Tab

AMBRISENTAN

· 7 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 5mg, 10mg · Tab

BOSENTAN MONOHYDRATE

· 14 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 62.5mg, 125mg · Tab

DIPYRIDAMOLE

· 6 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 25mg, 50mg, 75mg · Tab

ISOSORBIDE-5-MONONITRATE

· 3 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 60mg · ER Tab

RIOCIGUAT

· 10 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 0.5mg, 1.5mg, 1mg, 2.5mg, 2mg · Tab

TADALAFIL

· 73 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit (72), Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit; DIN status E (meaning unconfirmed); confirm discontinuation/availability with Health Canada (1) · strengths: 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg · Tab

VARDENAFIL HCL

· 16 products · Off-Formulary Interchangeable, not an ODB benefit · strengths: 10mg, 5mg, 20mg · Orally Disintergrating Tab, Tab Source: formulary-ed43-front-matter.txt Part V; ODB odb-formulary-ed43-extract-2026-08-26.xml extract_date=2026-08-26; class 24:12
Full class listing Related classes: 24:04 Cardiac Drugs, 24:06 Antilipemic Drugs, 24:08 Hypotensive Drugs (For Diuretics See 40:28), 24:32 Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone Inhibitors Same formulary class, not same indication: class membership alone does not establish equivalent uses.
What the Health Canada label says it is for
1. Indications SERC (betahistine dihydrochloride tablets) is indicated for: • Reducing the episodes of recurrent vertigo associated with Ménière’s disease. 1.1. Pediatrics Pediatrics (< 18 years of age): SERC is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy (see 7 Warnings and Precautions, Special populations, Pediatrics). 1.2. Geriatrics Geriatrics (> 65 years of age): Evidence from clinical studies and experience suggests that use in the geriatric population is associated with differences in safety or effectiveness (see 7 Warnings and Precautions, Special populations, Geriatrics). https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083994.PDF PM date: 2026-03-25 Source product: SERC; DIN 02243878; fetched 2026-09-10 Product monograph posted by Health Canada; excerpt for lookup only.

Other review policies

For Serc: no applicable EAP criteria are held and no ODB benefit is established. These policies do not establish coverage.

For rare, immediately life-, limb- or organ-threatening circumstances, the Compassionate Review Policy may consider an unfunded drug or indication, subject to its criteria and without bypassing the drug review process. Compassionate Review Policy

Compassionate Review Policy: source quote
Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life, limb, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in situations where there has not been a decision by the Executive Officer to provide funding of the drug or indication as part of the Ontario Drug Benefit program (and the EAP), and the drug or indication requested would not circumvent the established review process for new drugs or indications as part of the drug submission process for listing within the Ontario Drug Benefit program. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026

For cancer drugs, Case-by-Case Review considers rare, immediately life-threatening circumstances when no satisfactory funded treatment exists; its criteria and application process apply. Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs)

Case-by-Case Review (cancer drugs): source quote
Note: Requests for cancer drugs are considered under the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) which is administered by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The CBCRP considers funding requests for drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for the treatment of cancer in patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life-threatening (death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Please refer to the Ontario Health website for information on the application process, FAQs, eligibility criteria and program policies.

Ontario source; updated September 15, 2026