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Traditional Treatment for Vertigo

Vertigo is a condition in which a person feels like everything around them is spinning or moving. It is similar to dizziness, but with vertigo there is a distinct sensation of movement. There are several causes, including head injuries, certain tumors, inner ear disturbances, medications, multiple sclerosis and Meniere's disease. The most common form of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, a condition in which people feel as though their environment is moving or spinning when they suddenly move their head.

  1. Medications

    • Several types of medications can be prescribed to people suffering an acute attack of vertigo. These drugs help alleviate the spinning and moving sensations and also help control the nausea that often accompanies it. In cases where episodes of vertigo are caused by a prescription medication, it may be necessary for patients to stop taking the drug. Depending on the condition it is treating, other similar drugs may be available that will not cause vertigo. If the medication is essential, it may be possible to take it at a lower dosage to help eliminate episodes of vertigo.

    Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

    • Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, or VRT, can be used to treat vertigo in some patients. It is a type of physical therapy that works to improve balance and eliminate falls or injuries patients may suffer as a result of vertigo. Working with a therapist, patients learn a series of exercises that can help the brain compensate for the dizziness. Most patients begin by working directly with a therapist to learn the exercises and then are instructed to complete them on their own at home. The success of VRT can depend on many factors, including a patient's age, level of coordination and cognitive abilities.

    Epley Maneuver

    • Patients with BPPV caused by crystals in the ear's posterior semicircular canal may have the most success treating the condition with the Epley maneuver, which is also called a canalith repositioning procedure. The procedure involves a medical professional removing the ear crystals from the posterior semicircular canal and moving them to another canal in the inner ear. Once they are moved, they are absorbed by the body and the patient should stop suffering episodes of vertigo.

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