Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Treatment of Vertigo
Treatment of vertigo depends on the cause and severity of the symptoms.
Vertigo that is a symptom of earache is usually quite mild and will disappear when the earache clears up. However, if you have severe vertigo or vomiting, you may need medication. Antibiotics will often be prescribed for a bacterial infection in the ear.
If labyrinthitis is causing the vertigo, you may be advised to lie quietly in a darkened room to ease the nausea and sensation of spinning. Labyrinthitis often clears up of its own accord, but you may need antibiotics if it caused by a bacterial infection.
Vertigo is often made worse when you travel, so antiemetic (anti-sickness) drugs may be prescribed for car journeys, aircraft flights or sea cruises. Antiemetic drugs are used to treat nausea by suppressing signals from the part of the brain that triggers vomiting. They are useful if vertigo is brought on by motion sickness, migraine, inner ear disorders and labyrinthitis. If your vertigo is caused by poor circulation, taking small doses of aspirin can help.
Vertigo can also be a symptom of the more serious Ménière’s disease. This may also be treated with antiemetic drugs to relieve nausea, along with antihistamine to reduce the frequency of the attacks of vertigo. During an attack, it may be helpful to lie still and avoid noise. Trying to avoid stress may ease the symptoms, as can a low-salt diet.
Vestibular Rehabilitation is an effective treatment for common vertigo. Vestibular Rehabilitation is an exercise programme that can help you with your symptoms of dizziness and problems with balance.
The programme may include balance activities and eye movement exercises and will be tailored to your own symptoms.
You will be asked to exercise daily at home and after a number of sessions with a therapist who will teach you the exercises.
Occasionally, surgery may be carried out to remove additional fluid in the middle ear. In cases of very severe vertigo, such as in Ménière’s disease, an operation to cut the nerve between part of the inner ear and the brain may be recommended. However, this is a last resort, as the operation can cause hearing loss in the treated ear.
Occasionally, vertigo may be treated with a technique called the Epley manoeuvre. This is a procedure in which your head is moved into four different postures, and each posture is held for about half a minute. However, there is not much evidence to support this technique as a long-term cure.
