What are the best over-the-counter medicines for vertigo and dizziness. How do these remedies work to alleviate symptoms. What causes vertigo and dizziness, and when should you seek medical help. How can you differentiate between vertigo and general dizziness.

Understanding Vertigo and Dizziness: Causes and Symptoms

Vertigo and dizziness are common conditions that can significantly impact daily life. While often used interchangeably, these terms describe distinct sensations. Dizziness refers to feeling lightheaded, foggy, or unsteady, while vertigo involves a more specific spinning or tilting sensation. Understanding the root causes of these conditions is crucial for effective treatment.

What causes vertigo? Vertigo is frequently caused by inner ear problems, such as:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): Dislodged calcium crystals in the inner ear
• Inflammation of inner ear nerves
• Meniere’s disease
• Head injuries
• Migraines
• Certain medications
• Noncancerous tumors

Dizziness, on the other hand, can result from various factors, including rapid changes in position, certain medications, or underlying health conditions affecting the body’s balance systems.

Over-the-Counter Medications for Vertigo Relief

For those seeking relief from vertigo symptoms, several over-the-counter options are available. These medications can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life for many sufferers.

Meclizine: A Popular Antihistamine for Vertigo

How does meclizine work for vertigo? Meclizine is an antihistamine commonly used to treat both motion sickness and vertigo. It functions by blocking signals in the brain that cause nausea and dizziness. Available in chewable and non-chewable tablets, meclizine is a go-to option for many vertigo sufferers.

Natural Remedies: Ginger and Valerian Root

Can natural remedies help with vertigo symptoms? Indeed, some natural options have shown promise in managing vertigo:

• Ginger: Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger can help reduce inflammation in the inner ear, often a contributing factor to vertigo. It can be taken as a supplement or consumed as tea.
• Valerian root: This herb, typically used for anxiety and insomnia, may also be effective in treating vertigo. It works by calming the nervous system and reducing stress, potentially alleviating vertigo symptoms.

The Importance of Professional Medical Advice

While over-the-counter remedies can provide relief for many, it’s crucial to recognize that they may not be effective for everyone. Why is consulting a healthcare professional important? A medical expert can help determine the underlying cause of your vertigo or dizziness and develop a personalized treatment plan. This approach ensures you receive the most appropriate and effective care for your specific condition.

Recognizing Vertigo Symptoms: When to Seek Help

Identifying vertigo symptoms is crucial for timely treatment. What are the common signs of vertigo?

• A spinning or tilting sensation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of balance
• Difficulty focusing or visual disturbances
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

If these symptoms persist or significantly impact your daily life, it’s essential to seek medical attention. A healthcare provider can conduct tests to diagnose the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Differentiating Between Vertigo and General Dizziness

Understanding the difference between vertigo and general dizziness is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment. How can you tell if you’re experiencing vertigo or general dizziness?

Vertigo is characterized by:

• A distinct spinning or rotational sensation
• Feeling that you or your surroundings are moving
• Often triggered by specific head movements

General dizziness, on the other hand, may involve:

• Feeling lightheaded or faint
• A sense of unsteadiness or imbalance
• Fuzzy or foggy-headed sensation

Recognizing these distinctions can help you communicate more effectively with your healthcare provider and lead to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Lifestyle Modifications to Manage Vertigo and Dizziness

In addition to over-the-counter medications, certain lifestyle changes can help manage vertigo and dizziness symptoms. What lifestyle modifications can help alleviate vertigo?

• Staying hydrated: Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining balance and reducing the risk of dizziness.
• Regular exercise: Engaging in balance-improving exercises can help strengthen the vestibular system.
• Stress management: Stress can exacerbate vertigo symptoms, so practicing relaxation techniques may be beneficial.
• Dietary changes: Some people find relief by reducing salt intake or avoiding trigger foods.
• Sleep hygiene: Ensuring adequate and quality sleep can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes.

Implementing these lifestyle changes alongside appropriate medical treatment can significantly improve quality of life for those suffering from vertigo or chronic dizziness.

Advanced Treatment Options for Persistent Vertigo

For individuals who don’t find relief from over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes, more advanced treatment options are available. What are some advanced treatments for persistent vertigo?

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

This specialized form of physical therapy aims to retrain the brain to process balance information more effectively. It involves a series of exercises designed to reduce vertigo symptoms and improve overall balance.

Canalith Repositioning Procedures

For those with BPPV, canalith repositioning procedures, such as the Epley maneuver, can be highly effective. These procedures involve specific head movements designed to guide dislodged calcium crystals back to their proper position in the inner ear.

Prescription Medications

In some cases, prescription medications may be necessary. These can include stronger antihistamines, anti-nausea medications, or drugs specifically designed to treat inner ear disorders.

Surgical Interventions

In rare cases where vertigo is caused by a structural problem or tumor, surgical intervention may be recommended. These procedures are typically reserved for severe cases that don’t respond to other treatments.

The Role of Technology in Vertigo Management

Advancements in technology have opened up new avenues for managing vertigo and dizziness. How is technology helping vertigo sufferers?

• Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy: VR systems are being used to create immersive environments that help patients adapt to vertigo-inducing situations in a controlled setting.
• Balance Training Apps: Smartphone applications now offer guided exercises and tracking tools to help users improve their balance and manage vertigo symptoms.
• Wearable Devices: Some wearable technologies can monitor balance and provide real-time feedback, helping users maintain stability and prevent falls.
• Telemedicine: Remote consultations with vestibular specialists have become more accessible, allowing patients to receive expert advice without the need for travel.

These technological advancements are making vertigo management more accessible and personalized, potentially improving outcomes for many sufferers.

Misconceptions About Vertigo and Dizziness

There are several common misconceptions about vertigo and dizziness that can lead to misunderstanding and improper management of these conditions. What are some prevalent myths about vertigo?

1. Myth: Vertigo is always a sign of a serious underlying condition.
   Reality: While vertigo can be a symptom of certain serious conditions, it’s often caused by benign issues like BPPV that can be effectively treated.
2. Myth: Vertigo and dizziness are the same thing.
   Reality: As discussed earlier, vertigo specifically refers to a spinning sensation, while dizziness is a broader term encompassing various feelings of imbalance or lightheadedness.
3. Myth: Vertigo only affects older adults.
   Reality: While more common in older individuals, vertigo can affect people of all ages, including children and young adults.
4. Myth: There’s no effective treatment for vertigo.
   Reality: Many vertigo cases can be successfully managed with a combination of medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
5. Myth: Vertigo will go away on its own if you ignore it.
   Reality: While some cases of vertigo may resolve spontaneously, many require proper diagnosis and treatment for effective management.

Dispelling these myths is crucial for encouraging proper diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and dizziness symptoms.

The Impact of Diet on Vertigo and Dizziness

Diet can play a significant role in managing vertigo and dizziness symptoms for some individuals. How does diet affect vertigo?

Salt Intake and Fluid Balance

For individuals with Meniere’s disease, a condition characterized by vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus, reducing salt intake can help manage symptoms. This is because high salt consumption can lead to fluid retention, potentially exacerbating inner ear problems.

Trigger Foods

Some people find that certain foods trigger or worsen their vertigo symptoms. Common culprits include:

• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Chocolate
• Aged cheeses

Identifying and avoiding personal trigger foods can help reduce the frequency and severity of vertigo episodes.

Hydration

Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining balance and reducing the risk of dizziness. Ensuring adequate fluid intake throughout the day can help prevent dehydration-related vertigo symptoms.

Balanced Nutrition

A well-balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin D and B12, can support overall vestibular health. Some studies suggest that deficiencies in these nutrients may contribute to balance problems and vertigo.

While dietary changes alone may not cure vertigo, they can be an important part of a comprehensive management strategy for many sufferers.

The Psychological Impact of Chronic Vertigo

Living with chronic vertigo can have significant psychological effects on sufferers. What are the mental health implications of persistent vertigo?

Anxiety and Depression

The unpredictable nature of vertigo attacks can lead to anxiety about when the next episode might occur. This constant state of anticipation can contribute to the development of anxiety disorders and depression in some individuals.

Social Isolation

Fear of experiencing vertigo in public places or during social activities can lead some sufferers to isolate themselves. This withdrawal from social situations can further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression.

Impact on Self-Esteem

Chronic vertigo can affect a person’s ability to work, engage in hobbies, or perform daily tasks. This loss of independence and functionality can significantly impact self-esteem and overall quality of life.

Cognitive Effects

Some vertigo sufferers report difficulties with concentration and memory, often referred to as “brain fog.” These cognitive effects can be frustrating and may contribute to feelings of inadequacy or stress.

Addressing the psychological impact of chronic vertigo is an essential component of comprehensive care. Mental health support, such as counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be beneficial for many individuals dealing with the emotional challenges of persistent vertigo.

Emerging Research and Future Treatments

The field of vestibular research is continually evolving, with new insights and potential treatments emerging regularly. What are some promising areas of research in vertigo treatment?

Gene Therapy

Researchers are exploring the potential of gene therapy to treat certain types of vertigo, particularly those caused by genetic factors. This approach aims to correct or replace faulty genes that contribute to vestibular disorders.

Stem Cell Research

Stem cell therapy shows promise in regenerating damaged inner ear cells, potentially offering a cure for some forms of vertigo and hearing loss.

Neurostimulation Techniques

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), are being studied for their potential to modulate neural activity and reduce vertigo symptoms.

Personalized Medicine

Advances in genetic testing and biomarker identification may lead to more personalized treatment approaches, allowing doctors to tailor therapies to an individual’s specific vertigo cause and genetic profile.

Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis

AI-powered diagnostic tools are being developed to help healthcare providers more accurately and quickly diagnose the underlying causes of vertigo, potentially leading to faster and more effective treatment.

While many of these research areas are still in early stages, they offer hope for improved treatments and potentially even cures for various forms of vertigo in the future.

As research continues to advance our understanding of vertigo and dizziness, new treatment options and management strategies are likely to emerge. Staying informed about these developments can help individuals with vertigo and their healthcare providers make the best decisions for ongoing care and symptom management.

Get Relief from Vertigo with These Over-the-Counter Medicines

Vertigo is a common condition that can cause dizziness, nausea, and a feeling of spinning or tilting. While there are prescription medications available to treat vertigo, there are also over-the-counter options that can provide relief from symptoms. Here are some of the best over-the-counter medicines for vertigo:

• Meclizine: This antihistamine is commonly used to treat motion sickness and vertigo. It works by blocking the signals in the brain that cause nausea and dizziness. Meclizine is available in both chewable and non-chewable tablets.
• Ginger: Ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the inner ear, which is often the cause of vertigo. You can take ginger in supplement form or drink ginger tea to help alleviate symptoms.
• Valerian root: This herb is commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia, but it can also be effective in treating vertigo. Valerian root works by calming the nervous system and reducing stress, which can help alleviate symptoms of vertigo.

It’s important to note that while these over-the-counter medicines can provide relief from vertigo symptoms, they may not be effective for everyone. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or supplement.

How Nao Medical Can Help

If you’re experiencing vertigo symptoms, Nao Medical can help. Our team of healthcare professionals can work with you to determine the underlying cause of your vertigo and develop a personalized treatment plan to alleviate your symptoms. We offer same-day appointments, minimal wait times, and exceptional staff to ensure you receive the best care possible. Book an appointment with us today to start feeling better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes vertigo?

Vertigo is often caused by problems in the inner ear, such as inflammation or calcium deposits. It can also be caused by head injuries, migraines, and certain medications.

What are the symptoms of vertigo?

The most common symptoms of vertigo include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and a feeling of spinning or tilting.

Can over-the-counter medicines cure vertigo?

While over-the-counter medicines can provide relief from vertigo symptoms, they may not be effective for everyone. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or supplement.

Book an Appointment with Nao Medical

Don’t let vertigo symptoms hold you back. Book an appointment with Nao Medical today to discuss your symptoms and find the best treatment plan for you. Our team of healthcare professionals is here to help you feel your best.

Book Now

Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160900
https://www.healthline.com/health/vertigo-medicine-over-the-counter

External Links:
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/index. html
https://medlineplus.gov/healthysleep.html

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered, construed or interpreted as legal or professional advice, guidance or opinion.

5 misconceptions about vertigo, dizziness

Speaking of Health

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Topics in this Post

• Ear Health

Many adults have experienced dizziness. It could have occurred after standing up too quickly, after a carnival ride, after taking a medication or during a migraine. Many body systems, including your muscles, bones, joints, eyes and the inner ear, must work normally for you to have normal balance. When these systems aren’t functioning well, you can experience balance problems.

About one-third of Americans at some point experience short-term bouts of feeling foggy, unsteady and lightheaded or feeling a spinning sensation. However, if these sensations recur or affect your life, it is time to talk with your health care provider.

Vertigo vs. dizziness

First, it is important to outline the differences between vertigo and dizziness. While these words are often used interchangeably, they describe different sensations. Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, foggy or unsteady. Vertigo, which is less common than dizziness, is an overall spinning sensation.

Causes of vertigo and dizziness

Several conditions can cause balance problems, and these problems are usually related to a specific sign or symptom. Your health care team can identify the causes of your symptoms.

The most common cause of vertigo is when calcium crystals in your inner ear become dislodged from their normal position. This is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Other causes of vertigo include inflammation of the nerves in your inner ear, migraine, head injury, Meniere’s disease, noncancerous tumor or motion sickness.

Often, the feelings of faintness or lightheadedness are caused by a significant drop in blood pressure, such as if you stand or sit up too quickly. Cardiovascular disease is another common cause.

Joint, muscle or vision problems, or nerve damage to your legs, frequently cause feelings of unsteadiness. Other causes could include medications you take, abnormalities in your inner ear or a neurological condition, such as Parkinson’s disease.

Finally, dizziness can be caused by medications, abnormalities in your inner ear or psychiatric disorders. It also can occur if you are hyperventilating or breathing rapidly.

Common misconceptions

These conditions often are misunderstood. Here are some common misconceptions about vertigo and dizziness:

1. Dizziness is always related to ear crystals.
   While benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a common cause of vertigo, it is not associated with symptoms of dizziness. There are many other potential reasons for spells of dizziness.
2. Home remedies, like performing the canalith repositioning procedure or flushing your ears, will fix the problem.
   Not only can this be harmful, it can cause more problems. Attempting to reposition crystals without instruction from your health care provider can cause the crystals to be moved incorrectly. There have been instances where patients have given themselves a concussion during the process or damaged their eardrums from flushing liquid into their ears.
3. Dizziness is all in your head.
   Unfortunately, some people are told that their symptoms of dizziness or vertigo are not real or a result of mental illness. They are given advice to ignore it, and it will go away. Long-term dizziness and vertigo should not be ignored. Rather, a health care provider should treat these conditions.
4. Antihistamines, such as meclizine, solve dizziness.
   Meclizine is used to prevent and control nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It works to block the signals to the brain that cause these symptoms. However, if you have recurring vertigo or dizziness, taking antihistamines is not a good long-term solution. Meclizine can make you feel drowsy, which results in many people falling asleep until the episodes are over. In this situation, the medication is covering the symptoms, but it is not treating the condition.
5. You just need to deal with this because there are no long-term treatment options.
   Recurring vertigo or dizziness can significantly affect your life, such as missing social activities, or disrupting your abilities to drive or work. There is hope. Work with your health care team to identify the correct treatment option for you.

If you experience sudden vertigo with a decrease in hearing or ringing in your ear, seek emergency medical treatment. These are symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss, an inflammatory disorder probably caused by a virus that affect the nerves in the balance and hearing portions of your inner ear.

Mindy Zenke is a nurse practitioner in Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT/Otorhinolaryngology) in La Crosse, Sparta and Tomah, Wisconsin.

Topics in this Post

• Ear Health

8 reasons to visit an ENT specialist

Protect children’s hearing from noisy toys, gifts

Beyond hearing aids: Cochlear implants replace silence with sound

Betahistine

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Betahistine

Synthetic histamine preparation for the treatment and prevention of vestibular vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. It is used for syndromes characterized by dizziness, headache, tinnitus, progressive hearing loss, nausea and vomiting.

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Prescription only

CONTRAINDICATIONS, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL BEFORE USING

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How do headache pills work?

Have you ever wondered what happens to a pill after you take it? When ingested, the tablet goes through 4 stages: absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.

After the tablet enters the gastrointestinal tract, it is absorbed into the blood. The circulatory system then distributes the drug throughout the body. Side effects may occur at this stage.

After the drug has spread throughout the body, the process of breakdown or metabolism begins. The amount of time a drug remains in the body before the breakdown process begins depends on the substance and how it is administered. All substances that enter the bloodstream, no matter how they are administered, are ultimately transferred to the liver, where the metabolic process takes place.

Although the liver is the main site of drug metabolism, this process can also occur in other tissues and organs such as the kidneys, lungs, etc. After completion of the metabolic process, the drug is excreted from the body, mainly in the urine and / or feces.

This is the standard mechanism. However, each medication has its own characteristics – some tablets should be placed under the tongue, and not just absorbed, while others should have a special acid-resistant shell that does not dissolve under the action of gastric juice.

For example, consider how aspirin and ibuprofen, the most common headache medicines, work. These drugs are inhibitors, they block the production of such physiologically active substances as prostaglandins, with an increase in the level of which a person feels pain. In addition, they are easily absorbed, metabolized and excreted by the body.

What do you need to know about medicines for headaches?

For the two main types of headaches, migraine and tension headache, experts recommend over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen, etc., so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

These products are mainly intended to relieve inflammation, relieve pain and reduce fever.

However, if symptomatic medications are used more than twice a week, a physician should be consulted for prophylactic headache medications. Overuse of symptomatic medications can cause drug headaches that are difficult to treat.

When it comes to tension headache remedies, medications can help, but they are not the only way. Relieve or prevent headaches through lifestyle changes: adequate sleep and rest, proper nutrition, activity, outdoor activities, control of emotional state and stress.

To reduce the frequency and severity of chronic migraine attacks when the pain is not relieved by pain medications or other therapies, your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications, anti-seizure medications, muscle relaxers, and even Botox injections.

How does botulinum toxin, better known as Botox, work? Everyone knows the fact that Botox injections relax muscles and help smooth out wrinkles. When migraine patients used Botox to smooth wrinkles, they noted a significant reduction in headache.

Therefore, scientists began to study the effect of such injections on migraine headaches. Botox has been found to help relieve headaches by blocking chemicals called neurotransmitters that transmit pain signals from the brain. Botox is like a roadblock along the way. It stops chemicals before they reach the nerve endings of the head and neck. It will take about 30-40 injections over 3-4 months to stop migraine attacks. However, the results will appear within 2-3 weeks after the start of treatment.

Most migraines are treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, but if these do not help, your doctor may prescribe triptans. These drugs are effective even for severe cases of migraine, but they will not work for other origins of the headache. Therefore, doctors warn that drugs in this group should be taken only with full confidence that the patient has a migraine, and not another type of headache.

Why other medicines can be prescribed for headaches?

A patient comes to the doctor complaining of a headache, painkillers do not help him. In this case, the doctor may prescribe tricyclic antidepressants or beta-blockers. Some drugs designed to treat one disease are often used with great effect in the treatment of others.

For example, the antiepileptic drugs pregabalin and gabapentin are no longer used to treat epilepsy, but they have been shown to be effective in the treatment of neuropathic pain and emotional distress by lowering the threshold for stimuli.

Side effects and active ingredient

Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, various diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidney damage and other equally serious diseases. An overdose of paracetamol can cause serious liver damage, even death. Therefore, in the US, where paracetamol is one of the few over-the-counter drugs, it is often used by suicides.

All medicines contain an active (active) substance that has medicinal properties, and an excipient that helps the release and absorption of the active substance, but does not have chemical activity. The most common excipients are various forms of lactose, starch, etc. For example, the active substance of aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid, and the auxiliary substances are powdered cellulose and corn starch.