

“Someone who had an upper respiratory infection then is horribly dizzy a few days later – this vertigo is being caused by a virus affecting the inner ear. Is it intermittent? Is it persistent? Is it a single event or episodic? Intermittent vertigo provoked by very specific movements such as lying down in bed or rolling over in bed may be Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo – which typically responds very well to a specific sequence of movements known as the Epley maneuver. “These movements can be found online but I always think it best to have them performed by a professional.”įrequency of your feelings of vertigo is perhaps the most important factor when considering if you need to see a doctor.

Intermittent vertigo provoked by movement of the head or neck typically responds to a special type of physical therapy called vestibular rehabilitation.Patients can also wear thigh-high compression stockings or abdominal binders, or raise the head of the bed, increase salt intake and increase fluids. There are medications that can be used in this situation including (Dramamine®) and meclizine (Bonine®). Vertigo that only occurs within the first five minutes of standing is typically due to blood pressure dropping (orthostatic hypotension).These medications are eventually weaned as they can prevent healing over the long-term, explains Dr. Acute vertigo is best treated with nonspecific medication such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®) and meclizine (Bonine®).Migraine-related vertigo typically responds to medications that can prevent migraines.The specific diagnosis dictates which of these treatment options is the best for each patient: What are the treatment options for vertigo? Fahey notes a stroke would be accompanied by vomiting, double vision and sudden onset of vertigo. The cause of a person’s vertigo can vary greatly, from innocent causes such as an inner ear infection or migraine-related dizziness to more severe origins, such as a stroke in the back of the brain. It can cause nausea and vomiting, and it can certainly cause people to miss work,” says Dr. “Vertigo is a miserable condition, it really is. For example, lightheadedness is not vertigo because there is no side-to-side movement or sense of spinning. Fahey explains a common misconception is that dizziness is the same as vertigo. You may feel like you have to hold onto something to not fall down.ĭr. Vertigo is dizziness that has movement quality, such as the feeling that you’re spinning or the world is spinning around you. That’s not to suggest there aren’t treatments that work for some.īrian Fahey, DO, a neurologist at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Neurological Institute, says understanding the type of vertigo you’re experiencing is crucial before heading to the pharmacist. Kids may enjoy spinning in circles, getting dizzy and falling down, but for adults the sensation of the world spinning – commonly diagnosed as vertigo – can range from discomfort to debilitation.Įqually frustrating for those suffering with vertigo is the lack of a one-size-fits-all fix.
