How to get rid of dizziness: Medications and remedies

There are various ways to treat dizziness, depending partially on the cause. Antihistamines, migraine medications, and anticholinergics are some medical options. Sometimes, drinking water or getting more sleep can resolve it.

Some people describe dizziness as feeling lightheaded, while some say it is a feeling of movement, either of themselves or the world around them. Another group might say dizziness is a feeling of being unbalanced, while others may have trouble describing it as anything other than plain dizziness.

Some of those who experience dizziness have accompanying nausea, vomiting, or a sense that they might faint.

Dizziness is not a disease or condition in its own right, but rather a symptom of another issue affecting someone.

Dizziness often goes away over time. In some cases, however, dizziness will not resolve on its own. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to treat it.

A doctor will take into account what is producing the symptom and then suggest treatments that can include medications, therapies, lifestyle changes, or even surgery.

Fast facts on dizziness and how to get rid of it:

• Dizziness can be gradual, sudden, and have various causes. If it is severe or lasts for longer than a week, someone should see a doctor.
• Dizziness can be treated with medication.
• Dizziness is sometimes caused by dehydration. Drinking water can help alleviate it in many cases
• Dizziness can often get better without treatment.

Was this helpful?

Share on PinterestDizziness may have many potential causes. Determining the root cause may help to establish the best treatment options.

Most of the time, no medication is needed, but there are some drugs that can be used to treat the underlying causes of dizziness. Depending on the cause, these can include:

• anti-anxiety medications, when dizziness is caused by panic disorders or by mental health issues
• anticholinergic drugs or antihistamines, which may reduce dizziness or offer relief from vertigo
• medications for migraines, if the dizziness is linked to migraines

Each of these medications can treat an underlying cause of dizziness, such as fluid buildup in the ear, anxiety, the side effects from a particular drug, or other reasons. Lifestyle changes or a further visit to the doctor may be necessary if these treatments do not help alleviate the dizziness.

Share on PinterestAcupuncture is one possible treatment that may help relieve dizziness.

If medication is not helping to treat dizziness, an individual may need to try some lifestyle changes.

These changes could be as simple as drinking more water or other non-alcoholic liquid to keep well-hydrated, or lying down when feeling dizzy.

Steps people can take to relieve dizziness include:

• lying down and closing the eyes
• acupuncture
• drinking plenty of water and keeping hydrated
• reducing stress plus alcohol and tobacco intake
• getting plenty of sleep

There are several therapeutic approaches that can also be used to help relieve dizziness, such as head position maneuvers, balance therapy, or psychotherapy.

• Head position maneuvers: A method called the Epley maneuver may help with feelings of dizziness. It involves moving the position of the head in specific ways to reposition small calcium crystals that are causing the dizziness. People should discuss the approach with a doctor before using it.
• Balance therapy: There are several exercises that people can do to train their bodies to become less sensitive to movement. These can help if dizziness is caused by a problem with the inner ear.
• Psychotherapy: If someone has dizziness that is related to an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy may help them to relieve this symptom.

A lifestyle change can be simple yet make a huge difference in reducing dizziness.

Someone with dizziness that does not resolve on its own after at least a week should see a doctor immediately.

According to a paper in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, “The clinician’s first job is to sort out whether the dizzy patient is having attacks of vertigo, or attacks of some other paroxysmal symptom. ”

Because dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a bigger issue, it is important for a doctor to diagnose the problem if the dizziness does not fade or become more manageable.

A doctor should be seen if the person experiences:

• persistent or severe headaches or migraines
• falling over regularly or a struggle when walking
• frequent or ongoing vomiting and nausea
• loss of consciousness
• shortness of breath or a struggle breathing
• any head injury
• a severely stiff neck
• seizures

If the dizziness is ongoing, frequent or severe, a doctor should be seen immediately.

When trying to get rid of dizziness, it is important to remember that it is a symptom of another issue and not a medical disorder in itself.

Share on PinterestDrinking water and staying hydrated can help to prevent dizziness, as dehydration may cause dizziness.

Dizziness can be caused by a wide variety of different factors, such as:

• consuming alcohol
• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• low blood pressure
• low blood sugar
• stroke
• dehydration
• hyperventilation
• panic disorder or panic attacks
• middle ear infection
• motion sickness
• Meniere’s disease
• an inflammation of the inner ear called labyrinthitis

There are many other instances and underlying causes of dizziness.

Certain medications can also cause dizziness as a side effect. People should always check the side effects of any medications they are taking to see if they may lead to dizziness.

Vertigo

Vertigo causes a similar feeling to dizziness but is a standalone condition. A person experiencing vertigo will feel like the environment around them is moving or spinning. Dizziness is a sensation while vertigo is the illusion of movement.

When someone feels as though they are moving in a similar manner, it is called subjective vertigo.

Diagnosing dizziness is often straightforward. Doctors will check to see if the person feels disorientated, woozy, or unbalanced. They will then look for other symptoms before checking for the underlying cause of the dizziness. A doctor will try to narrow down what is causing the dizziness so that they can treat that condition.

The doctor will ask a series of questions about when the dizziness began and other symptoms a person may have experienced.

They might then decide to check the inner ear, blood pressure, and other physical characteristics of the person, to make sure they are hydrated, their blood sugar is at a healthy level, and to check for other possible causes of the dizziness.

Once the doctor has decided about the probable cause of the dizziness, they will be able to suggest a treatment plan for the individual.

How to get rid of dizziness: Medications and remedies

There are various ways to treat dizziness, depending partially on the cause. Antihistamines, migraine medications, and anticholinergics are some medical options. Sometimes, drinking water or getting more sleep can resolve it.

Some people describe dizziness as feeling lightheaded, while some say it is a feeling of movement, either of themselves or the world around them. Another group might say dizziness is a feeling of being unbalanced, while others may have trouble describing it as anything other than plain dizziness.

Some of those who experience dizziness have accompanying nausea, vomiting, or a sense that they might faint.

Dizziness is not a disease or condition in its own right, but rather a symptom of another issue affecting someone.

Dizziness often goes away over time. In some cases, however, dizziness will not resolve on its own. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to treat it.

A doctor will take into account what is producing the symptom and then suggest treatments that can include medications, therapies, lifestyle changes, or even surgery.

Fast facts on dizziness and how to get rid of it:

• Dizziness can be gradual, sudden, and have various causes. If it is severe or lasts for longer than a week, someone should see a doctor.
• Dizziness can be treated with medication.
• Dizziness is sometimes caused by dehydration. Drinking water can help alleviate it in many cases
• Dizziness can often get better without treatment.

Was this helpful?

Share on PinterestDizziness may have many potential causes. Determining the root cause may help to establish the best treatment options.

Most of the time, no medication is needed, but there are some drugs that can be used to treat the underlying causes of dizziness. Depending on the cause, these can include:

• anti-anxiety medications, when dizziness is caused by panic disorders or by mental health issues
• anticholinergic drugs or antihistamines, which may reduce dizziness or offer relief from vertigo
• medications for migraines, if the dizziness is linked to migraines

Each of these medications can treat an underlying cause of dizziness, such as fluid buildup in the ear, anxiety, the side effects from a particular drug, or other reasons. Lifestyle changes or a further visit to the doctor may be necessary if these treatments do not help alleviate the dizziness.

Share on PinterestAcupuncture is one possible treatment that may help relieve dizziness.

If medication is not helping to treat dizziness, an individual may need to try some lifestyle changes.

These changes could be as simple as drinking more water or other non-alcoholic liquid to keep well-hydrated, or lying down when feeling dizzy.

Steps people can take to relieve dizziness include:

• lying down and closing the eyes
• acupuncture
• drinking plenty of water and keeping hydrated
• reducing stress plus alcohol and tobacco intake
• getting plenty of sleep

There are several therapeutic approaches that can also be used to help relieve dizziness, such as head position maneuvers, balance therapy, or psychotherapy.

• Head position maneuvers: A method called the Epley maneuver may help with feelings of dizziness. It involves moving the position of the head in specific ways to reposition small calcium crystals that are causing the dizziness. People should discuss the approach with a doctor before using it.
• Balance therapy: There are several exercises that people can do to train their bodies to become less sensitive to movement. These can help if dizziness is caused by a problem with the inner ear.
• Psychotherapy: If someone has dizziness that is related to an anxiety disorder, psychotherapy may help them to relieve this symptom.

A lifestyle change can be simple yet make a huge difference in reducing dizziness.

Someone with dizziness that does not resolve on its own after at least a week should see a doctor immediately.

According to a paper in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, “The clinician’s first job is to sort out whether the dizzy patient is having attacks of vertigo, or attacks of some other paroxysmal symptom.”

Because dizziness is sometimes a symptom of a bigger issue, it is important for a doctor to diagnose the problem if the dizziness does not fade or become more manageable.

A doctor should be seen if the person experiences:

• persistent or severe headaches or migraines
• falling over regularly or a struggle when walking
• frequent or ongoing vomiting and nausea
• loss of consciousness
• shortness of breath or a struggle breathing
• any head injury
• a severely stiff neck
• seizures

If the dizziness is ongoing, frequent or severe, a doctor should be seen immediately.

When trying to get rid of dizziness, it is important to remember that it is a symptom of another issue and not a medical disorder in itself.

Share on PinterestDrinking water and staying hydrated can help to prevent dizziness, as dehydration may cause dizziness.

Dizziness can be caused by a wide variety of different factors, such as:

• consuming alcohol
• benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
• low blood pressure
• low blood sugar
• stroke
• dehydration
• hyperventilation
• panic disorder or panic attacks
• middle ear infection
• motion sickness
• Meniere’s disease
• an inflammation of the inner ear called labyrinthitis

There are many other instances and underlying causes of dizziness.

Certain medications can also cause dizziness as a side effect. People should always check the side effects of any medications they are taking to see if they may lead to dizziness.

Vertigo

Vertigo causes a similar feeling to dizziness but is a standalone condition. A person experiencing vertigo will feel like the environment around them is moving or spinning. Dizziness is a sensation while vertigo is the illusion of movement.

When someone feels as though they are moving in a similar manner, it is called subjective vertigo.

Diagnosing dizziness is often straightforward. Doctors will check to see if the person feels disorientated, woozy, or unbalanced. They will then look for other symptoms before checking for the underlying cause of the dizziness. A doctor will try to narrow down what is causing the dizziness so that they can treat that condition.

The doctor will ask a series of questions about when the dizziness began and other symptoms a person may have experienced.

They might then decide to check the inner ear, blood pressure, and other physical characteristics of the person, to make sure they are hydrated, their blood sugar is at a healthy level, and to check for other possible causes of the dizziness.

Once the doctor has decided about the probable cause of the dizziness, they will be able to suggest a treatment plan for the individual.

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Medicines for mental illness

The effectiveness of drug therapy with psychotropic drugs is determined by the compliance of the choice of the drug with the clinical picture of the disease, the correctness of its dosing regimen, the method of administration and the duration of the therapeutic course. As in any field of medicine, in psychiatry it is necessary to take into account the entire complex of drugs that the patient takes, since their mutual action can lead not only to a change in the nature of the effects of each of them, but also to the occurrence of undesirable consequences.

There are several approaches to the classification of psychotropic drugs. Table 1 shows the classification proposed by the WHO in 1990, adapted to include some domestic medicines.

Table 1. Classification of psychopharmacological drugs.

The main clinical characteristics and side effects of the listed classes of pharmacological drugs are given below.

Antipsychotics

Clinical characteristics. This class of drugs is central to the treatment of psychoses. However, the scope of their application is not limited to this, since in small doses in combination with other psychotropic drugs they can be used in the treatment of affective disorders, anxiety-phobic, obsessive-compulsive and somatoform disorders, with decompensation of personality disorders.

Regardless of the characteristics of the chemical structure and mechanism of action, all drugs of this group have similar clinical properties: they have a pronounced antipsychotic effect, reduce psychomotor activity and reduce mental arousal, neurotropic action, manifested in the development of extrapyramidal and vegetovascular disorders, many of they also have antiemetic properties.

Side effects. The main side effects in the treatment of neuroleptics form the neuroleptic syndrome. The leading clinical manifestations of this syndrome are extrapyramidal disorders with a predominance of either hypo- or hyperkinetic disorders. Hypokinetic disorders include drug-induced parkinsonism, manifested by increased muscle tone, lockjaw, rigidity, stiffness, and slowness of movement and speech. Hyperkinetic disturbances include tremor and hyperkinesis. Usually in the clinical picture in various combinations there are both hypo- and hyperkinetic disorders. The phenomena of dyskinesia can be paroxysmal in nature, localized in the mouth area and manifested by spasmodic contractions of the muscles of the pharynx, tongue, lips, jaws. Often there are phenomena of akathisia – feelings of restlessness, “restlessness in the legs”, combined with tasikinesia (the need to move, change position). A special group of dyskinesias includes tardive dyskinesia, which occurs after 2-3 years of taking antipsychotics and is expressed in involuntary movements of the lips, tongue, face.

Among the disorders of the autonomic nervous system, orthostatic hypotension, sweating, weight gain, changes in appetite, constipation, diarrhea are most often observed. Sometimes there are anticholinergic effects – visual disturbances, dysuric phenomena. Possible functional disorders of the cardiovascular system with changes in the ECG in the form of an increase in the Q-T interval, a decrease in the T wave or its inversion, tachycardia or bradycardia. Sometimes there are side effects in the form of photosensitivity, dermatitis, skin pigmentation; skin allergic reactions are possible.

Antipsychotics of new generations, compared with traditional derivatives of phenothiazines and butyrophenones, cause significantly fewer side effects and complications.

Tranquilizers

Clinical characteristics. This group includes psychopharmacological agents that relieve anxiety, emotional tension, fear of non-psychotic origin, and facilitate the process of adaptation to stress factors. Many of them have anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. Their use in therapeutic doses does not cause significant changes in cognitive activity and perception. Many of the drugs in this group have a pronounced hypnotic effect and are used primarily as hypnotics. Unlike neuroleptics, tranquilizers do not have a pronounced antipsychotic activity and are used as an additional tool in the treatment of psychosis – to stop psychomotor agitation and correct the side effects of neuroleptics.

Side effects of during treatment with tranquilizers are most often manifested by daytime drowsiness, lethargy, muscle weakness, impaired concentration, short-term memory, as well as a slowdown in the rate of mental reactions. In some cases, paradoxical reactions develop in the form of anxiety, insomnia, psychomotor agitation, hallucinations. Among the dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system and other organs and systems, hypotension, constipation, nausea, urinary retention or incontinence, decreased libido are noted. Long-term use of tranquilizers is dangerous due to the possibility of developing addiction to them, i.e. physical and mental dependence.

Antidepressants

Clinical characteristics. This class of drugs includes drugs that increase the pathological hypothymic effect, as well as reduce somatovegetative disorders caused by depression. A growing body of scientific evidence now suggests that antidepressants are effective for phobic anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is assumed that in these cases, not the actual antidepressant, but the anti-obsessional and antiphobic effects are realized. There is data confirming the ability of many antidepressants to increase the threshold of pain sensitivity, to have a preventive effect in migraine and vegetative crises.

Side effects. Side effects related to the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system are expressed by dizziness, tremor, dysarthria, impaired consciousness in the form of delirium, epileptiform seizures. Possible exacerbation of anxious disorders, activation of suicidal tendencies, inversion of affect, drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia. Side effects may be manifested by hypotension, sinus tachycardia, arrhythmia, impaired atrioventricular conduction.

When taking tricyclic antidepressants, various anticholinergic effects are often observed, as well as an increase in appetite. With the simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors with food products containing tyramine or its precursor – tyrosine (cheeses, etc.), a “cheese effect” occurs, manifested by hypertension, hyperthermia, convulsions and sometimes leading to death.

When prescribing serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and reversible MAO-A inhibitors, there may be disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and impotence may develop against the background of SSRIs. In the case of a combination of SSRIs with drugs of the tricyclic group, the formation of the so-called serotonin syndrome, which is manifested by an increase in body temperature and signs of intoxication, is possible.

Normotimics

Clinical characteristics. Normotimics include drugs that regulate affective manifestations and have a preventive effect in phasic affective psychoses. Some of these drugs are anticonvulsants.

Side effects of when using lithium salts are most often tremor. Often there are violations of the function of the gastrointestinal tract – nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea. Often there is an increase in body weight, polydipsia, polyuria, hypothyroidism. Acne, maculo-papular rash, alopecia, as well as worsening of psoriasis are possible.

Signs of severe toxic conditions and overdose of the drug are a metallic taste in the mouth, thirst, severe tremor, dysarthria, ataxia; in these cases, the drug should be stopped immediately.

It should also be noted that side effects may be associated with non-compliance with the diet – a large intake of liquid, salt, smoked meats, cheeses.

Side effects of anticonvulsants are most often associated with functional disorders of the central nervous system and manifest as lethargy, drowsiness, ataxia. Hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor can be observed much less frequently. The severity of these phenomena is significantly reduced with a smooth increase in doses.

With a pronounced cardiotoxic effect, atrioventricular block may develop.

Nootropics

Clinical characteristics. Nootropics include drugs that can positively affect cognitive functions, stimulate learning, enhance memory processes, increase brain resistance to various adverse factors (in particular, to hypoxia) and extreme stress. However, they do not have a direct stimulating effect on mental activity, although in some cases they can cause anxiety and sleep disturbance.

Side effects – rare. Sometimes there are nervousness, irritability, elements of psychomotor agitation and disinhibition of drives, as well as anxiety and insomnia. Dizziness, headache, nausea and abdominal pain may occur.

Psychostimulants

Clinical characteristics.