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[Sarah_2021]

HI, I have been suffering with vertigo since September 2020 – at first, I was not sure it was vertigo and put it do to too much running round.

I was fine for a few months, and they became more frequent. The doctor prescribed me Propranolol as she was addiment they were migraine related. I ended up with an allergic reaction to the medication… vertigo still continues, and I have now been given Betahistine 8mg x3 daily. I have an MRI scan booked in a couple of weeks to hopefully determine if it is MD. What I wanted to know, people who are on this medication and they do still get vertigo attacks how do they feel? My attacks have been bad in the past, room spinning eyes unable to focus and vomiting. I’m hoping this medication is my answer. Thank you in advance.

[Happyrosie]

Vertigo may well take a while to settle. If betahistine doesn’t suit, there are other meds.Also, have you been given brain training exercises? These are to convince your brain to believe what your eyes are telling you and not your ears. If you haven’t been given these I can signpost you.

[Sarah_2021 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi, thank you for your message. i have only been taking this medication since the start of this week. i have been given no training just awaiting MRI scan. if you can send me what you have that would be appreciated. also do you know what an attack feels like whist on these meds it is still bad?

[Happyrosie in reply to Sarah_2021]

The med I was given was Prochlorperazine and it certainly helped. The Brain and Spine Foundation publish Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises so go to their website and find these. Just do the ones where you sit and move your eyes left and right, then your head left and right with your eyes staying on one point. Work up to one minute for each exercise (that’s four exercises) as soon as you can to train the brain. and don’t attempt any of the others while you might vomit. Then work your way up to doing these exercises standing.

You could also go to the website of NICE and input vertigo into their search box. This will give you the pathways that doctors are recommended to follow when their patients present with vertigo.

[Sarah_2021 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you your post is very helpful. I have had to stop all forms of exercise as it was triggering the vertigo! All help goes x

[1966366 in reply to Happyrosie]

Good morning HappyRosie, any brain training advice you can give re calming brain activity will be most welcome. It now seems ENT has finally decided that my T is despatched directly from the brain as I have it in the head and not the ears. Only thing that works for me is sleep aids but consultant reluctant to help with this long term. All the best

[Happyrosie in reply to 1966366]

I’d just say, have a look at my two earlier posts about brain training exercises and try them. I’m surprised you were not directed to the Brain and Spine Foundation ones by your medical people. Just to repeat, though, start off by just doing the sitting down ones where you move your head or eyes, then do these standing up when you’re used to them (give it four or five days). Twice or more a day.I can’t give you the direct weblink.

[Happyrosie]

I feel for you! I’ve just remembered another exercise that’s good when you’re feeling a bit better.On NHS website input ‘exercises for older people’. One of these is another brain training exercise, for when you can at least stand and do something.

I wish you well.

[SH55]

I had small bouts of vertigo which I just got on with until I had such a bad attack I was falling over. I had a week of steroids as the doc didn't know what to do - that seemed to help. But the Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises via a physiotherapist helped train the brain too. You can look them up online. Propranolol is used for head conditions - not sure why for vertigo? Push for second opinions too. Not all GPs know everything. Vertigo is horrible. Good luck.