The most commonly used method is the Epley maneuver. The maneuvers move the tiny free floating crystals out of the sensing tube. This is done in the office, usually on the examining table. Depending on the cause and duration of the vertigo, additional advice may be offered.įor benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, your doctor may move your head and body through a series of positions. Your doctor may begin treatment by recommending bed rest or prescribing medications that suppress the activity of the inner ear, such as meclizine ( Antivert, Bonine and other brand names), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) or promethazine ( Phenergan) anticholinergic medications such as scopolamine (Transderm-Sco) or a tranquilizer, such as diazepam ( Valium). Because vertigo can be associated with an intense sense of imbalance, it is important to avoid situations in which a fall could cause significant harm, like climbing a ladder or working on a slanted roof. Vertigo can happen to anyone, and there is no way to prevent the first episode. Expected Durationĭepending on its cause, vertigo may last only a few seconds or last for weeks or months. If central vertigo is suspected, your doctor will order a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your brain. Usually, no further testing is needed unless your doctor suspects you have central vertigo. The pattern of your eye movements may help to determine if the problem is peripheral or central. Your doctor will evaluate your eye to look for abnormal jerking movements (nystagmus). There may be intense nausea and vomiting and variable hearing loss.Ĭentral vertigo is a more serious problem in the cerebellum (back part of the brain) or brain stem. Labyrinthitis and Ménière's attacks usually come on abruptly and last from a few hours to a couple of days. Positional vertigo is diagnosed when moving the head causes the vertigo and returning the head to a neutral position relieves symptoms. Peripheral vertigo, which is much more common, includes benign positional vertigo, labyrinthitis and Ménière's disease. Vertigo can be divided into two major categories, peripheral vertigo and central vertigo. Your doctor will diagnose vertigo based on your description of what you are feeling. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting and ringing in one or both ears (tinnitus). Vertigo can feel like the room is spinning or like you are spinning in the room, or it can be just a sense of imbalance. Although the reason for this change is unknown, scientists suspect that it may be linked to loud noise, to a viral infection or to biologic factors inside the ear itself. Ménière's disease is caused by a change in the volume of fluid inside the inner ear.
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