How to Get Rid of Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation that the world around you is moving or spinning. It can occur suddenly, where one minute everything appears normal and in the next moment you feel unsteady and your surroundings are in motion. Since vertigo can be caused by different ailments, getting rid of it may be different for one person than for another.

Instructions

• 1

  Focus on a distant object if you feel the onset of an episode. Closing your eyes and laying your head down can escalate the vertigo. Some cases of vertigo are caused by an infection of the inner ear.

• 2

  Diagnose the cause of vertigo. Properly diagnosing the cause of vertigo will enable your physician to best prescribe the appropriate treatment to alleviate future vertigo episodes.

• 3

  Learn canalith repositioning if the vertigo is caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. According to the Mayo Clinic, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is one of the most common ailments that cause vertigo. Canalith repositioning involves head movements to reposition fluid in your inner ear. It is a procedure that the doctor teaches the patient during an office visit.

• 4

  Undergo surgery to insert a bone plug into a section of the inner ear. If the vertigo is caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and the canalith repositioning is not alleviating the vertigo, this surgery might be performed in rare instances.

• 5

  Take medication prescribed by the physician if the vertigo is caused by Meniere's disease. Medication prescribed for motion sickness, such as meclizine or diazepam, can alleviate the symptoms of vertigo. There is no cure for Meniere's disease. Limiting salt, reducing exposure to MSG and eating smaller, regular meals (such as six instead of three) during the day, will help minimize the episodes of vertigo.

• 6

  Obtain a prescription to reduce fluid retention, if the vertigo is caused by Meniere's disease. This can help reduce the pressure of fluid in the inner ear. Discuss with your physician if this is appropriate for your situation. Diuretics used include a combination of hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene.

• 7

  Get injections of gentamicin or steroids into the middle ear to reduce the symptoms if the vertigo is caused by Meniere's disease. Both of these treatments come with risks, and should be discussed with your physician.