Medicines to treat dizziness

Article by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong - Department of General Internal Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Dizziness is the feeling (hallucination) that everything or the environment around you is moving / spinning. Dizziness is a symptom, common in certain diseases, for example, inner ear disease, encephalopathy, or sensory nervous system disease.
In the case of vertigo, the patient may also have other symptoms such as ringing in the ears, feeling of fullness in the ears, nausea or vomiting, sweating, palpitations, anxiety and panic...

There are two types of vertigo: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo.
Peripheral vertigo accounts for about 80% of cases. The cause is often related to disorders/abnormalities in the inner ear. Central vertigo accounts for 20% of the time and is often associated with pathology involving the brain stem, or cerebellum.

Causes of peripheral vertigo such as: labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, nerve tumor VIII, otitis media, Meniere's disease, paroxysmal benign vertigo... Causes of dizziness Central: Hemorrhagic stroke or cerebral infarction, especially in the brain stem and cerebellum, brain tumor, cerebellar pontine cyst, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury... In addition, dizziness It can also be accompanied by some other diseases such as: Migraine headache, ataxia, low blood pressure, neurosyphilis ...

The doctor will prescribe based on the specific cause and condition of the disease. Antibiotics or antivirals are indicated for cases of otitis media/inner ear infections caused by bacteria or herpes viruses.
Medications to treat symptoms:
Antihistamines: These drugs inhibit Histamine, a transmitter in the brain. Some commonly used drugs such as Meclizine hydrochloride (Antivert), Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride, Promethazine (Phenergan), Cinarizin, Betahistine (Betaserc) Anticholinergics: Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and Amitriptyline (Elavil) are drugs that have both anticholinergic effects. , and has anti-histamine effects. Antiemetics: metoclopramide, meclizine, prometazine. Sedatives: seduxen, diazepam, Lorazepam (Ativan).

Ca blockers: Flunarizine, cinarizin, verapamil. Diuretics: Acetazolamide may be considered for treatment in Meniere's disease. Corticosteroids: Used in neuritis VIII and Meniere's disease. Acetyl-leucine: brand name is Tanganil, effective in treating acute vertigo, but the mechanism of action is unclear. Ginko Giloba and Piracetam : Two drugs are effective in the treatment of both peripheral and central vertigo. Giloba enhances cerebral perfusion and peripheral vestibular system, while Piracetam acts on the vestibular nucleus and oculomotor nucleus in the brain stem. Surgery: The surgical method is indicated in cases of neuroma VIII, brain tumor, cerebellar pontine tumor or benign paroxysmal vertigo unresponsive to medical drugs...
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