“Stupid Drugs” and Other Treatments for Dizziness
Dizziness is a deal-breaker. For anyone who has suffered from episodic or long-term dizziness, you know that it literally STOPS you from living your life. For a condition so debilitating, it is surprising that effective treatments are so few and far between.
The standard treatment recommended by ENTs is a low-salt diet, with the suggested amount limited to one teaspoon per day. As a health coach who helps clients with multiple diet restrictions, I would designate low-salt as probably the most challenging diet change to apply to everyday life. And for me, this treatment is ineffective, because my vestibular issues mainly originate with allergies or viruses. (Imagine if this “treatment” was recommended for other medical conditions. “You have a broken foot, just don’t walk on it for the rest of your life” or “Sorry about your cancer, just don’t breathe the air.”) It is hard to believe there is not some other option for such a debilitating condition. But I digress.
As a vestibular patient suffering from migraine, BPPV and neuritis for the last 13 years, I have looked into my own, outside-the-box treatments. They have had varying degrees of success.
The most effective treatment, by a mile, was physical therapy. I had an excellent PT who spent enough one-on-one time with me to determine what was really going on. The outcome of each session varied, but it was immensely comforting to have someone so knowledgeable to see me through my ups and downs. I went to four ENTs who spent less than five minutes assessing my issues…Dave literally spent hours with me and saw firsthand what was going on. You can’t put a price on that kind of support.
I also tried acupuncture, and noticed no improvement at all. I went to a hypnotist with the idea of training my brain to not panic during dizziness- I would also say that this did not work as well as I would have hoped. Chiropractic care likely made my situation worse, as I believe an aggressive neck adjustment may have knocked ear crystals loose leading to BPPV.
I have also tried different medications and supplements. Some are part of my everyday routine, while I only use others when I am in a very bad way. Here are some that are currently on standby in my medicine cabinet:
Meclizine, otherwise defined by one ENT I saw as a “stupid drug,” has been quite effective for me. It is a bit sedating, as it diminishes the nervous system response to the ear disturbance. (The ENT felt that your brain does not adjust to difficult circumstances if it is dulled. He’s probably right, but anyone suffering from acute dizziness wants any type of relief, no matter what the cost.) This is what they gave me in the hospital when I went in for vertigo.
Decongestants can be helpful if the dizziness is caused by ear congestion.
Inner Ear Balance is a supplement that combines many Chinese herbs to help regulate fluid in the ears. I take this daily, and feel like it helps somewhat.
Vertigone is an herbal capsule meant to provide relief from spinning and nausea, and regulate the inner ear. I feel like this has helped, but it is hard to tell.
Dizzy Stop has ginger and grape seed extract, and provides relief from dizziness, motion sickness and nausea.
Menierin combines vitamins (Niacin and Magnesium), collagen and ginger. I take this one daily to help prevent dizziness.
Riboflavin (100 mg) can be helpful for migraine-related vertigo. This is another one I take as a form of prevention.
Gingko has been associated with improved balance in different studies, possibly due to the fact that it increases blood flow. I have noticed some improvement from taking this.
Well Mind Vertigo is a combination of herbs that help to relieve dizziness as well as brain fog.
WOW Ear Oil Relief combines garlic, calendula, tea tree and St. John’s Wort. I am cautious about putting anything in my ear, but sometimes I rub this along the outside.
I am always seeking out new options for treatment, and I will update this list if I come across anything helpful. If you have a product you like, email me at kate@heretohelpcoaching.com.
