Vertigo

[Outlander]

Hi everybody,

I'm new to the forum and kind of glad to know I'm not the only one who has gone through this. It all started with an episode lasting 20 minutes back in October 2007. Then I had another vertigo episode in November, another in December. By January, they were coming 3 to 5 times a week, lasting 30 to 60 minutes. I couldn't walk or even crawl during the vertigo - I fell and hit my head numerous times. I gave up driving, my social life, walking in my neighbourhood, etc - I only left the house to go to my job 3 blocks away from home and to go to the bank & grocery store.

Fortunately my boss was really supportive, even after I barfed on a coworker! Yuck :-( Every episode of Vertigo is accompanied by nausea and repeated vomiting. I always carry a big ziplock bag in my purse in case I'm going to be sick in public.

My family doctor referred me to an ENT, who did lots of tests and diagnosed me with a vestibular disorder (or possibly early menieres, as my hearing seems a little worse). He wanted to send me for a trans-tympanic injection of Gentamicin to destroy the vestibular nerve in my right ear and hopefully solve the problem. Yikes!! I moved from Canada to the US at this time, and got married. My husband is a pharmacist, and did tons of research on drug treatment of vertigo. After 6 months of trial and error, we found a combination of meds that work wonders. Before, I had vertigo every other day, now It's once a month. And I can drive again, go out for dinner, go to movies, etc - and haven't fallen and hit my head in the shower in 8 weeks! (Hot water seems to bring on vertigo attacks)

I am not a doctor - I'm just going to share the medication combo that worked for me. It really and truly gave me my life back, I just pray that it keeps on working...

Meclizine - qid (every 6 hours)
Serc (betahistine) 16mg tid (every 8 hours) (available in Canada and mexico, not the US)
Cinnarizine (Stugeron) 75mg bid (every 12 hours) (available in mexico)

I think the cinnarizine is the key. when I tried one 75mg tablet a day, the vertigo was less intense - things didn't spin as fast, and it went away withing 30 minutes. When I increased the dose to 2 tablets (one in the morning, one before bed) four days passed and I realised I hadn't had a vertigo episode!! And since the day I started the cinnarizine twice daily, I've only had 3 attacks. I can't tell you how amazing it is to get my life back and become a "healthy person" again. I can now think about going back to work and travel again.

I live in Texas near the mexican border, so I buy my cinnarizine down there. Maybe it's available online if anybody wants to try it?
So that's my happy ending, as long as I can find the medications and they keep working. Am also starting physio because I don't want to be on these meds for the rest of my life if at all possible!

[dizzygurl]

Hi, Im really happy that you got relief with your symptons. Im experiencing vertigo constantly right now. Pretty much dizzy 24/7. I live in Canada. So Right now im being tested for Meineres Disease. Im still waiting to get an ENG balance test done. Im not even able to drive or do the normal things I love to do right now. Im off work because of how im feeling. I also have so much pressure in my head it just feels terrible. I have the ringing, humming noise in my head. My head feels really heavy. Also get the headaches as well, that makes me so tired out. Im on Prednisone medications right now. Im going today back to my Ent Specialist. He has recommended the steroid injections. IM terrified to death to get them. Im not sure what else to do at this point. But I am mentioning the medications which helped you..Well, I did try SERC. it didnt do anything at all for me. Hope your still checking this site. I would really appreciate any advise at this point.