Dizziness: Causes, Medications, and What to Do When It Won't Go Away

When you feel like the room is spinning or you’re about to pass out, that’s dizziness, a common symptom caused by issues in the inner ear, brain, or medication reactions. Also known as vertigo, it’s not just a nuisance—it can be a red flag for something serious, especially if it shows up after starting a new drug. Many people ignore it, thinking it’ll pass, but dizziness often links directly to the meds you’re taking—whether it’s blood pressure pills, antibiotics, or even over-the-counter pain relievers.

Take beta-blockers, medications used for high blood pressure and heart conditions. Drugs like propranolol or carvedilol can slow your heart just enough to drop your blood pressure too far, making you feel faint when you stand up. Or consider DOACs, blood thinners like apixaban and rivaroxaban—if your kidneys aren’t filtering them right, they can build up and cause dizziness from low blood pressure or internal bleeding you don’t even feel. Even something as simple as dairy products, like milk or yogurt taken with certain antibiotics can mess with absorption, leaving you with untreated infections that trigger dizziness as a side effect.

It’s not just about the drug itself—it’s about what it’s mixed with. Rifampin can make birth control fail, and that hormonal crash can leave you dizzy. Kava, often used for anxiety, can damage your liver and throw off your balance. And if you’re on HIV meds with statins, the combo might cause muscle breakdown that leads to extreme fatigue and dizziness. The real issue? Most people don’t connect the dots between their meds and the spinning sensation they feel every morning.

What you’ll find below are real, practical stories from people who’ve been there: the woman who stopped feeling dizzy after switching her blood pressure drug, the man who learned his antibiotic wasn’t working because he drank milk with it, the senior who avoided a stroke by spotting dizziness as a warning sign. These aren’t theories—they’re fixes that worked. No fluff. No jargon. Just what you need to know to stop feeling off and start feeling like yourself again.