Comments on: Meclizine: effective long-term dizziness solution?

By: Patty Dindial

Patty Dindial — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:10:34 +0000

Hi, I have been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease since 2008. I have had surgery which revealed a leak in my endolymphatic sack. I also had a decompression done during that surgery. I felt much better after the survery only to find out that during the surgery the crystals got knocked off cause me to now have BPPV. I have been taking meclezine for the pass almost 5 years and cannot live without it. It has been my safety net. I had two attacks since the surgery. The one when I was off the meclezine was horrific, even more intense than it was before the surgery that I had to be hospitalized. The other attack has not been so bad since I was on the meclezine. I don’t know what I would do without meclezine. I have had the manuver several times but they keep popping out again. Iam concerned about taking meclezine sinceI was told by my doctor that after awhile meclezine actually causes vertigo.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 09:50:01 +0000

I am reading all ur posts. I got labs in 2006 and have been dizzy ever since. I cld not drive until last year in about Sept. I have been driving ever since. But, yest I got my first relapse of symptoms ie the room moving and when I went to get into my car yest the vertigo that hit me was amazing. So, no driving just now. I have to deal with panic disorder since 2006. I was a very confident person before.. nothing bothered me. Now Im a mess lol. Whenever I feel this coming on my body goes into melt down .. I cry easily, get panicked and just want to sit in my house and hide. Anyway, yesterday when it happened, I came back into the house and did my breathing exercises and vrt exercises. Today have done same, still dont feel right. But will keep doing them. I wonder if this is just a “blip” and I will feel ok again. Feel really sick just now kinda 24/7 any help or comments appreciated guys!!

By: shelly3257

shelly3257 — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:22:10 +0000

I forgot to add that taking Meclizine every day long term for me, it lost it’s effectiveness and I had to take more and it ended up not working at all over time. I told the ER and my neurologist and they said you can build up a tolerance to it.

By: shelly3257

shelly3257 — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:20:19 +0000

I’ve had vertigo attacks for 8 years. I was diagnosed with BPPV, then Meniere’s Disease and it took over 5 years to get the correct diagnosis which is Basilar Migraines/Migraine Associated Vertigo. You can have attacks of vertigo without any headache and it can be migraine. If you do have ear symptoms such as fullness, pressure, ringing with your vertigo, see a “neurotologist”. They can test you to see if you have Meneire’s Disease.
With migraine, you can get attacks or have the off balance vertigo all the time (me). I was on Meclizine for 7 years as needed and sometimes had to take it for over a month every day and then it stopped working. I had to switch over to Valium (not recommended because it’s addictive but I have no choice). Ativan and other benzo type drugs can be used in severe cases but it’s best to find the root of your problem and try to do all you can that way (for migraine, it’s trigger avoidance. Diet and hormones and weather and allergies affect it so sometimes you can’t always control the triggers).
I wish all of you the best of luck in finding out your cause for sure, but I wanted to share what I have learned. You can go to http://www.menieres.org or http://www.mvertigo.org to ask questions and the best specialist that is most knowledgable about inner ear and brain causes of vertigo both is a neuroTologist (with a T).

By: sasha

sasha — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 05:57:22 +0000

Wow its really nice to find others dealing with the Vertigo from hell issue.
I was diagnosed with Meneires disease about a year ago although I dont know if I really agree with the diagnosis. My vertigo seems to get worse seasonally and if I am around dust. I take Meclizine and for me it has been a lifesaver although I have to take the no drowsy (dramamine) during the day . I can take up to 75 mgs a day. I have had vertigo the last two weeks with sudden onset and then I am ok for a couple of days I always end yo hugging the toilet , I seem to always get sick. It seems better in the winter. really glad to know I am not the only one dealing with this , its difficult to explain to anyone who has not experienced it. and I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Godspeed healing for all of us.

By: Anica

Anica — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:22:48 +0000

I am glad I am not alone. This is terrible. I have been having vertigo spells since mid January. I started blood pressure meds…told vertigo would pass…and nothing…given three rounds of antibiotics…and nothing…saw an ENT and told me my vertigo recovery was fast…so to be patient. I mis my life. I haven’t been able to drive in two months or go anywhere without my husband driving me around. I feel bad for my kids. We are always home I am going to start taking meclizine today. I am hoping this does the trick.

By: nata

nata — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:34:45 +0000

I have all these systems going on2 yrs. Dizzy sickness sweating everything. Been seeing an ENT he does nothing for me but rd drugs that don’t help if u find answers please email me I want my life Bk. My poor kids. Rcordova1@live.com

By: C.S.

C.S. — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 20:35:18 +0000

Hi VertigoGuy! I was happy to find your blog. Yesterday when I awoke, the room was spinning like I was on a merry-go-round out of control. It was horrible. I could barely walk, then I got sick and was sweating bullets.

I had to have a doctor come to my home. I was recovering from a head cold/flu, and he diagnosed that this had happened because my stuffy sinuses migrated into my ear canal. Makes sense…but on the other hand, this is the 2nd time this has happened in the past couple of months. Last time it abated as soon as I got up; this time, it wouldn’t stop! I also suspect I have Meniere’s, because of the ringing I often get in my ears.

In any case, this much I know: I NEVER want to experience again what happened yesterday. It caused me to miss work and cancel my birthday party. But most of all, it was just downright awful. The doc left me with some Meclizine, and I am so thankful for this, because on Day 2, I still am experiencing some slight vertigo. My head cold is still in my sinuses, so I’m hoping this will have been solely an episodic case of vertigo. But in case it’s not, so thankful for Meclizine. I cannot allow myself to be disabled by such a thing. I need to hold down a job and live my life to the fullest–don’t we all!

I wish everyone here relief–even a cure–from vertigo and will stay tuned to this page for more insights. I am currently researching natural alternatives, but it’s pretty scary some of the things they include in those homeopathic remedies. I’d appreciate anyone’s input on those. Thanks!

By: CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:36:59 +0000

I was just diagnosed yeterday w/ positional vertigo. It happened as I was rolling over in bed to the left side and the room started spinning. I thought it was a fluke so I tried it again and it did the same thing. I have to drive alot so I went to dr. to have it checked. She said I have mild form of BPPV. She prescribed 1/2 pills of Meclizine which I took and only feel tired from it. I slept great last night. I do not have episodes while I am sitting, walking, standing, or even exercising. It is only lying down. Do you think it will stay that way? The dr. didn’t say I was not ok to drive, so I took my kids to school today with my husband and I drove ok. Do you think I can drive long distances again? My fear is that the positional vertigo gets worse. Nice to have someone to chat with. My husband does not understand and thinks one can only be sick unless they are bleeding! I don’t want this problem to come between me and my job, and I want to lead a normal life.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:19:47 +0000

My first bout of vertigo I had was about 8 years ago, it had me in bed for 3 weeks…It was a horrible experience I was given meclizine and it didnt do a thing for me. My next bout came about three years later, which lasted a few days in bed. I went to an ENT dr a neurologist, who ran every test under the sun, thank g-d it wasn’t anything in my brain. I did some research and found a physical therapist who specialized in vertigo, during my 3rd bout and this PT really saved my sanity, he did all sorts of manuvering with my head, puttinmg me into vertigo states, and taught me how to control them and not let them control me. I learned how to focus and do breathing technics that kept them from getting out of control, I’m sure that most people who have vertigo, get very anxious which makes the vertigo worse. Now when I get an attack I can at least keep them in control. I tell meself you are not going to control me I am going to control you!!!!!!!!
Another thing that I was told to do, was before getting out of bed to flex my feet back and forth to get the blood flowing faster, there isn’t a day that I don’t do that now Stay strong everybody we will all beat this people that have never experience this can never understand what it’s like!!!!!