Medication for Meniere's Disease

Meniere's Disease is a condition that causes intermittent symptoms of hearing loss, ringing in your ears and vertigo. While there is no cure for Meniere's Disease, doctors are often successful at controlling symptoms of the drug with medication.

Function

• In the treatment of Meniere's Disease, doctors use medications to control symptoms of vertigo, such as motion sickness, nausea and vomiting. Additionally, diuretic drugs that help eliminate fluid from your body also remove excess fluid in your ears that contributes to Meniere's Disease.

Types

• For vertigo, doctors prescribe meclizine, diazepam and prochlorperazine, reports the Mayo Clinic. Diuretics are usually paired for effectiveness, with triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide being the most commonly prescribed drugs for Meniere's Disease.

Time Frame

• Treatments used for vertigo are usually short-term and meant to alleviate the symptom when it occurs. Diuretics are used long-term to help limit the frequency of all the symptoms caused by Meniere's Disease.

Risks

• The most common side effect of the medications used to control vertigo is drowsiness. With diuretics, it is possible that levels of certain minerals like potassium will be flushed from your body along with excess fluid.

Considerations

• While taking medications for vertigo, avoid drinking alcohol and do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how your medication affects you. If your doctor prescribes diuretics, try to increase your dietary intake of potassium by eating bananas, cantaloupe, oranges, spinach and sweet potatoes, suggests the Mayo Clinic.