Vertigo (Spinning Sensation)

Description

The sensation of the room spinning or the person spinning. The symptoms of vertigo typically get worse with head movement, and decrease with the eyes closed. Nausea and vomiting are frequently associated with vertigo. There are many causes of vertigo with the most common being: Meniere disease, motion sickness syndrome, vestibular migraines, inner ear trauma, perilymphatic fistula, medication damage to inner ear (ototoxicity), acoustic neuromas and other cerebellopontine angle tumors, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vertebral basilar insufficiency, labyrinthitis, multiple sclerosis, and disequilibrium of aging.

Symptoms

Room spinning, spinning sensation of the person, nausea, vomiting, incoordination, symptoms get worse with head movement, symptoms decrease with eyes close.

Tests

A history and physical exam will be performed. Additional tests will be done to establish the diagnosis.

Treatment

A procedure called "Epley's maneuver" may be performed to reposition the structures inside the inner ear. Medications that may be prescribed include: antihistamines, anticholinergics, and sedative-hypnotics.

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