I have been plagued by constant vertigo for the last 5 years. It started one morning I stood up diagonally into my closet doors and took them out. Over the next 6 months I was unable to keep anything down and was constantly is spinning. I had light sensitivity and nausea plaguing me. My doctor at the time kept me on the sea sickness patch thats you are only supposed to be on 2 or 3 days at a time. I was on it for 6 months and developed a highly allergic reaction every time the adhesive was put near my ear because of the extended use. I found another doctor and he prescribed me amitriptyline and it has been a miracle worker. I no longer have to wear the sea sickness patches and while I was at 250 milligrams to combat the inability to keep anything down and the constant spinning I am tired of being dependent on the drug. I am weaning myself down and AM at 50 milligrams as of right now however I would like to be off of it completely. He diagnosed me with migraine induced vertigo where even though I don't always have a migraine when I am nauseous. Because of the amitriptyline I only have one or two bad days a month of vertigo which takes me into bed. My question is if anybody else has been misdiagnosed with my condition. I've been roll out for Menieres disease and any other inner ear problems. I've had multiple cats cans and MRI is to ensure that's not a brain aneurysm or tumor. I've looked online everywhere for the last five years to no avail and am hoping someone has similar experience with vertigo treatment with amitriptyline although it is usually prescribed to someone with severe depression. We have notice that it might be the chemistry in my brain that it might be causing the issue however I am hesitant on completely stopping the amitriptyline to only regrests where I was 5 years ago.
Hi, I was told I had migraine associated vertigo 3 years ago, when all other possible reasons for my symptoms were ruled out, and was put on low dose of amitriptyline as migraine prevention. My symptoms certainly lessened but I don't know if that was the medication or just spontaneous improvement. I stopped the Ami and for 4 years rarely had a problem. But at the end of May the vertigo started again and back on Ami again, waiting to do the rounds of specialists again. I think when you do stop Ami you have to wean off gradually. Good luck
Hi. I have also been suffering similar symptoms for 1.5 years now. I told the neuro-otologist that I have read that many people have been diagnosed with mav, silent migraine or vestibular migraine. Many months ago he offered me a trial of antidepressants but I said I would have a think and get back to him. I think he offered me amitriptyline or maybe sertraline. I have another appointment with him soon. May I ask what dosage of amitriptyline you are on now ? Did you start off on a lower dosage ?
I am very glad you have found some relief after many years of suffering and hope things continue to improve for you.
Best wishes
Jason
If you are taking amitriptyline you should only come off them under medical supervision. They are quite a serious drug and must be managed carefully.
Also, if the amitriptyline is working, why come off it at all. I would give anything if my dr gave me something that actually works.
and Having been kept up all night as the bed and the room span round me, I have yet another appointment with my Dr this evening.
I have also been ruled out for Menieres and ear problems, but the spinning goes on, along with the tinnitus. (They know what it isn't but NOT WHAT IT IS)
Pauline
I too am willing to take anything for the long term if it helps me. I am already on lots of medication that I am not completely happy taking but I know I benefit from so I have accepted the negatives in light of the positives of medication.
I hope you see some improvement soon. Sorry to hear you have had a bad night.
I too have a form of tinnitus. Hyperacusis tinnitus. Had a few months a lot better but past week I have super sensitive hearing and earache in both ears. I havn't mentioned this to my GP as I know there is nothing they can do and it improved for a few months so I though it was going away and becoming easier to live with. It's when all symptoms hit me at once that I can't cope. I am sure you know the feeling I am sorry to say.
My most recent diagnosis by the neuro-otologist was uncompensated vestibular dysfunction. How vague is that. When I saw the diagnosis in print I had to laugh. A stranger on the street could have deduced that lol.
Hello, I started off with 25mg but I am vertigo was so severe that I was quickly up to 250mg and stayed there for five years. I recommend staying with a smaller dose because you do build up a resistance to it. And thank you, that information really does help.
Thank you, Angelique
Thanks for the info Angelique. I will get on to the nero-otolist when I see him in setpember.
Best wishes, Jason
Hello,
I too have those symptoms but I'm tired of being subject to the side effects.
I live in the United States and when I travel I have to take my medication with me everywhere and I would like to be dependent on one less thing as we are moving to Italy. I have cleaned myself off to 25 milligrams but am wondering if anyone else has attempted to do the same.
Hello Jason, (this is my 3rd attempt at replying, I keep being dumped from the system. How annoying is that!!)
I saw a Dr last evening, after a sleepless night and numerous dizzy spells during the day. I wanted to ask if I could increase the betahistine, as it gives me some relief.
She asked me to carry out some coordination exercises. Touch my nose/her hand Repeat several times. Walk heel to Toe across the room. Didn't get very far before the dizzies kicked in! She then took my Blood Pressure!!! Surprise it was really high (220/114) From then on she didn't want to discuss the Vertigo. The BP needed to be controlled first. I tried to explain the exercises probably caused the high reading. Earlier in the day I had taken it and the reading was fairly normal.
She gave me prescriptions for an extra BP drug, one that I had previously taken and suffered a reaction! Nevertheless, she wanted me to take it!
She made an appointment for me to see my regular GP this evening.
Hopefully, I will get more sense out of him!!
Against advise, I took an extra betahistine, along with an extra BP tablet (one of my current ones) I slept all night and this morning the BP is down
So far no Dizzy spell this morning.
Regards Pauline
Glad your feeling a little better today Pauline. Hope the GP gets your blood pressure sorted. I don't think the exercises may have made your blood pressure that high but maybe you were anxiuous not feeling well and about the appointment. Be carefull and only take your BP meds as prescribed.
Hope you have a good evening
Regards Jason
Thank you Jason,
I went to see my Dr last evening and he has added a tablet to my Betahistine ( Cinnarizine) to be taken at night. My Blood Pressure was a little better. He wants to add another drug, but has asked for a blood test to check my heart, before prescribing it.
I have also been referred for counselling and I await an assessment call tomorrow.
Hopefully, something will work, watch this space.
It's nice to have sympathetic people to "talk" to
Thank You, take care Pauline
Hi Pauline. Good to chat to people who can understand too. I was taking Cinnarizine for 5 months or more. Give it a go. I noticed no difference on it but took it 3 times a day anyway. I dont want to worry you but it is known in these high doses long term to cause parkinsons. A short while back it was on the news about long term use of some antihistmines and Cinnarizine was one of them. I have researched the studies and most of the evidence comes from studies on the elderly taking Cinarizine so I suppose in older age there would be more chance of these poeple getting parkinsons. If it helps you to take it stick with it but try and see if a lower dose will work for you. Many people take cinnarizine when they have a vertigo attack but don't take it everyday. If it helped me feel better I would still be taking it to be honest. Please don't take me as being negative about cinnarizine as many people swear by it and find it helps them with their vertigo. I feel people should be aware of the negatives as well as the positives of medication so that they can make their own mind up. I still have some cinnarizine left and when I am at my worst I take it for a few days as I am desperate for some relief then.
Counnselling can be great and I have friends who say they wish they went for counseling years ago as they found it helped them so much.
Glad your BP has improved.
Take care, Jason.
Hi, I suffered for years and lost many work days. I have a bag problem and physio was boring and not working. A friend suggested I see a Chiropractor whilst there I managed to bring my Menier's up.he lokked at my spine etc and said I don't think you have menier's your neck is not straight he made an adjustment I immediately felt the relief symptoms were gone the next day. Now whenever I feel the dizziness coming on I return this happens maybe every 12-18 months.
I would try an alternative you may be surprised as I was. I have no need for medication so the cost of the visit worked out cheaply as I no longer required medication.
Thanks Jason, I'm only taking 1 cinnarizine tablet at night, too early to say if it is making a difference.
About ten years ago I had a very bad cold and it left me with a bad ear infection. Since then I have had tinitus in this ear and total deafness also in that ear. I had antibiotics and it cleared the infection but not the tinitus or the deafness. I have had small attacks of dizziness over the years but got over it. In April of this year I had a bad attack. Sever dizziness, walking like a horse (legs going everywhere) bumping into walls etc, spending nearly an hour over the toilet being sick.This laste for nearly three hours. My husband took me to the doctors as I couldnt walk properly on my own. He gave me an injection (dont know what it was) and Dogmatil 50mg and Brainall 30mg this helped over the big attacks but now I am having small attacks of the dizziness and I cant walk straight and I have pressure on my head and also a feeling of fugginess in my head. It is really curtailing my life as I cant plan anything because of the attacks. Can anyone help me? Please. Thanks
I do hope it works for you and gives you some relief. It is sad I know but I know what it's like to have to put all your hope into taking a pill. Make sure you give it a chance and take it for a few weeks.
Hello Jason
Took the Dr's advice looking up at shelves while shopping and doing all the things that bring on the dizzies and felt pretty ill by the time I got home.
Had a pretty bad night, so won't be doing that again, it really isn't worth it.
Take care
Pauline
Hi, Pauline, were you told to take the cinarrizine at night? Reason I ask is that with a half life of 3-4 hours, by the time you get up in the morning there's only going to be about a quarter of it left in your body and it'll be out of your system in 20 hours. Best wishes to you with this horrible illness
Hello "h"
I take Betahistine 1 - 3 times a day. The Cinnarizine is a recent addition to get me through the night. So far it's really helping
Pauline