Feeling unbalanced? Management of vertigo and Meniere’s disease

Abstract

Vertigo is defined as a condition whereby a sensation of spinning is experienced and can be accompanied by other symptoms like feeling weak or experiencing a loss of balance. Vertigo may be induced by drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antidepressants and antihypertensives. Other causes of vertigo can include advanced age and the presence of several diseases. There are various types of vertigo namely: acute unilateral vestibulopathy, benign paroxysmal postural vertigo, central vertigo and functional dizziness. Vertigo has multiple treatment approaches which can be divided into pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments including lifestyle modifications, trigger management, surgery, and medical devices. In terms of the management of Meniere's disease symptoms, betahistine remains the first-line agent due to its good tolerability and efficacy.