Vertigo: Causes, Treatments, and Medications That Help

When you feel like the room is spinning, even when you're standing still, you're not just dizzy—you have vertigo, a false sensation of movement caused by problems in the inner ear or brain pathways that control balance. Also known as dizziness with rotation, it’s not a disease but a symptom that points to something deeper—like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a common inner ear disorder triggered by head movements, or vestibular neuritis, an inflammation of the nerve connecting the inner ear to the brain.

Vertigo often shows up after a cold, head injury, or when you start a new medication. Some drugs, like certain antibiotics or blood pressure pills, can mess with your inner ear fluid or nerve signals. That’s why people on beta-blockers or DOACs sometimes report spinning sensations, even if they weren’t expecting it. It’s not always the medication itself—it’s how your body reacts to changes in blood flow, nerve sensitivity, or fluid balance. And if you’re taking something like rifampin, which speeds up how your liver breaks down other drugs, it might be reducing the effectiveness of meds meant to control vertigo symptoms.

What makes vertigo tricky is that it doesn’t always come with obvious signs. One person might feel nauseous after rolling over in bed. Another might get dizzy walking through a supermarket with bright lights and moving shelves. The triggers vary, but the root causes often cluster around the same systems: the inner ear, the brainstem, or the nerves that connect them. Treatments range from simple repositioning maneuvers like the Epley maneuver for BPPV, to medications that calm the inner ear signals—like meclizine or betahistine. But here’s the thing: many of these drugs have side effects of their own. Drowsiness, dry mouth, even more dizziness. That’s why knowing what you’re taking—and why—is just as important as knowing what’s causing the spin.

Below, you’ll find real-world insights from people who’ve dealt with vertigo and the meds that helped—or hurt. Some posts dig into how drug interactions can make vertigo worse. Others explain why physical therapy, not pills, is often the better long-term fix. You’ll see how things like kidney function, hormone changes, or even dairy intake can quietly affect your balance system. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what your doctor might not tell you unless you ask.