Vertigo isn't just dizziness - it's a spinning sensation often caused by inner ear problems like BPPV. Learn how vestibular therapy, the Epley maneuver, and lifestyle changes can restore balance without drugs.
Vertigo: Causes, Treatments, and Medications That Help
When you feel like the room is spinning, even when you're standing still, you're experiencing vertigo, a false sensation of movement or spinning that stems from problems in the inner ear or brain. Also known as dizziness with a spinning component, it’s not just feeling lightheaded—it’s your balance system sending wrong signals to your brain. This isn’t normal fatigue or a quick head rush. Vertigo can hit suddenly, make you nauseous, and force you to hold onto furniture just to stand up.
Most cases come from issues in the inner ear, the part of your body that controls balance through fluid-filled canals and tiny hair cells. Also known as vestibular system, this system is so sensitive that even a small crystal displacement can trigger intense episodes. The most common type is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a condition where tiny calcium crystals break loose and float into the wrong part of the ear, confusing your brain about your position. Also known as BPPV, it’s often triggered by rolling over in bed or looking up. Other causes include vestibular migraine, a type of migraine that affects balance without always causing head pain. Also known as migraine-associated vertigo, it can come with sensitivity to light or sound, even if you don’t have a classic headache. Infections, Meniere’s disease, and even certain medications like some antibiotics or blood pressure drugs can also set it off.
What most people don’t realize is that vertigo often gets misdiagnosed as stress or aging. But it’s treatable. Physical therapy maneuvers like the Epley maneuver can fix BPPV in one or two sessions. Medications like meclizine or betahistine help manage symptoms, but they don’t cure the root cause. For vestibular migraines, lifestyle changes and preventive meds like beta-blockers or antidepressants may be needed. The key is knowing which type you have—because treating one kind with the wrong approach can make things worse.
Below, you’ll find real, practical guides on how vertigo connects to medications, what drugs can trigger it, how to recognize when it’s serious, and what therapies actually work based on clinical evidence. No fluff. Just what you need to stop the spinning and get back to normal.