Hello,
I have been suffering with vertigo for a few weeks. The doctor said it was to do with fluid behind the ear and I have been prescribed Betahistine, before that I was taking Prochlorperazine, neither seem to do much.
I wonder if anyone here has had a similar experience and can offer any advice? Maybe home remedies? Anything is appreciated as I am desperate now!
Thanks! 
GP's tend to jump on Betahistine as a "catch all". This is frankly wrong. Betahistine is used to control the symptoms of Menieres desease -with anything else it's ineffective at best and can amplify T at worst. You could have Vestibular Neuritis or just blocked ears or any number of things. Go back to doctors and lay it on a bit thick and ask for an urgent referral to ENT.
Betahistine MAY help non-Meniere's related vertigo, but you are absolutely right about it being over-prescribed. I have Meniere's but without vertigo (which stopped a few years ago) and was prescribed it anyway. I've stopped taking it as it made no difference. Having further investigation is probably the best thing you can do.
Can I ask how they diagnosed you with Meniere's? Yes definitely I will call them again tomorrow. thanks for your reply!
It took a long time to diagnose because I was living in Egypt, and my vertigo was dismissed as something else. Bad mistake as it literally took a decade for me to be living back in the USA, more problems and finally diagnosed at the beginning of Covid. But - Meniere's cannot be definitively diagnosed. There are four main symptoms which can happen at the same time or over time. If you have all four or three you are generally diagnosed with Meniere's, if you have two, there's a question mark and if you only have one it's not enough to do more than keep a watch. But the four are: one sided hearing loss that fluctuates, or is much worse on one side than the other and fluctuates. Mine was also often triggered by flying; it would be much worse after many of my flights, sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. Sometimes nothing happened, on one occasion it improved! Also the hearing in the bad side would have overall deterioration over time, and eventually the 'good' ear may go as well. And yes, it did, but still some hearing there. But fluctuations are a real part of it. The second is vertigo, and for me, while I had it, that was the worst. I could have vertigo for up to 16 hours, couldn't move off the bathroom floor, once I got there. Just waited for it to pass while throwing up and having diarrhoea. Third, tinnitus. I have it in both ears, but learned to make my peace with it by and large. I idon't have it as badly as some people for which I'm thankful. It also changes from time to time, but I don't know what affects it. The fourth is a feeling of fullness in the ears. I get that very occasionally, so not sure if it's related or not. I was finally diagnosed in 2020 and was tested for a CI but just failed to qualify. Medicare later relaxed their criteria and I now have a CI in the left ear. It's been life changing. When I'm wearing it with the corresponding HA in the other ear I no longer think about being deaf, but my life had really grown pretty small before that.
Oh wow I'm so sorry you've had to go through all of that! Glad you managed to get a CI in the end. My hearing seems to be ok minus the bit of T here and there. I actually did fly about 2 weeks prior, 7 hour flight, but would I wonder if it would take that long to trigger symptoms? For me, I don't have a spinning sensation its more of a swaying feeling like i could be on a boat and feeling unbalanced and eye fluttering. I called the doctor yesterday and they said another doctor will call me tomorrow who specialises in 'manipulation' I didn't fully understand what that meant but i assume it means some exercises. Thanks for your reply
It might be something called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which you can do exercises that hopefully correct it. But I'm not a doctor!! Good luck.
I saw another doctor a few days ago and she said my ears looked fine but there's no way to see my inner ear. Not sure why the other doctor i saw the week before said there's fluid in my ears! This is the third doctor I have seen now, first also said my ears looked fine but that I probably have a virus causing the vertigo. Anyway the doctor I saw few days ago sent me for an MRI as I did mention I have pressure in my head. Of course I'm slightly worried now but we will see what the outcome is! thanks
Oh I see! I'll give them a call tomorrow and ask to be referred. Thanks for the advice!
vertigo could be BPPV (look it up ) or labyrinthitis or indeed other things. The Brain and Spine Foundation website has helpful information.
Generally speaking it gradually cures itself (maybe using the vestibular exercises on the Brain etc website). Prochlorperazine is just to help with the symptoms, it’s not a cure. ENT may or may not be helpful.
Yes I read it could be a number things but I will look into these more! I stopped the prochlorperazine after a few days and changed to the betahistine but neither have done much. Thanks for your reply!
Hi! My health problems started around 17 years ago when I had a 4-hour long vertigo. It stopped after 2 x 24 mg of Betahistine taken once.
Then, I had different tests done:blood and carotide arteries Doppler when they discovered quite a big aterom(fat) plaque on the right carotide.
Then medication for cholesterol, brain blood circulation followed.
After a few weeks T started up to the present time.
My ENT doctor prescribes Complex B and Magnesium from time to time. I had the corresponding blood tests for the levels of Mg, B6 and B12.
And diet and low salt intake daily.
Good health!
Hi Ana. How long did you take Betahistine before you felt a difference? Its been a week of taking it for me and I feel like it hasn't worked, maybe a tiny bit.
I had blood tests a couple months ago before I had this so the doctors said I don't need another. It was normal apart from slightly low Vit D so I've taken supplements.
I will request to be referred for some tests! So your vertigo stopped after the meds but then T started up afterwards? Thanks for your advice!
Hi! Yes, that big vertigo stopped. Since then I have had outbursts of vertigo but after 1c24 mg of Betahistine they stopped.
The worst part is that I’m afraid to stop it. În România where I live doctors let us take B all our lives. I will try to stop it every 3 months for 30 days.
I do advise you to take Complex B and Mg from time to time, especially mg, but NOT for a long time continually.
Good health!
hi there. I had the same thing and was deaf on one side. Have look on YouTube for vids that show you how to massage and help drain fluids. I found it did help and it took time but it did go.
Hello! Oh dear, did you take anything for it? I tried doing some maneuvers i found on youtube but maybe I should try again! I'll see what else I can find. Thanks
Hello the fluid will eventually drain out on its own, the fluid builds up when you have a head cold, it happens to me probably every 3 or 4 years, it can last from 2 to 5 weeks, mine , clears up within 2 or 3 weeks , steam can help, put some very hot water in a bowl, lower your head down with a towel over your head and breath in the steam through your nose this may loosen the thick fluid which has built up behind the ear drum, just be careful with the hot water.
Hi there. That's great advice. I will give it a go. I do suffer from allergies sometimes and I was blowing my nose quite a lot so that could be a cause. Could have been a mild cold but not sure. I forgot to mention the doctor also prescribed me a nasal spray call Dymista that i've used for a few days. I will try your suggestions. Thanks!
Hello. I have similar issues to you and have persevered with Bethistine twice daily and am seeing some improvement to both blocked ear and feeling off balance with no vertigo since attack in April. I find drinking plenty of water also helps and no sudden movements up or down as mine is positional vertigo with Pulsatile tinnitus. I’ve heard Gingo tablets along with vitamin D can also help but I’ve not tried so cannot advise you but I’ve researched a lot and these vitamins seem to be mentioned frequently. Try to stay positive I’m certain you will improve. Best wishes.
Hi there. How strong are the tablets they've given you and how long before it started working? I'm taking 16mg tablets three times a day, but not sure if it's helping. I was also given Dymista nasal spray that I've used for about 5 days now. I take vitamin D supplements as mine was slightly low after a blood tests couple months ago. I had a google search, I assume you mean Ginkgo tablets? I shall look further into it I find I feel ok when I'm sitting, its more when I get up and walk around or doing any physical activity even if its just walking around. Thank you very much for the advice!
Hi. Mine are only 8mg which I take twice sometimes three times a day. Been on them over two months now and definitely see improvement although I often feel ‘off’ in the morning and like you feel worse when doing activities but try to push through and rest up feet up for 15 mins if needed with glass of water. Yes I meant Ginkgo so may be worth researching as seems to be a go to for some people. I watched a video yesterday on YouTube with a Dr who recommended vit D with vit K2. Apparently it helps the absorption of calcium in the ears (the crystals which become dislodged) and greatly helps vertigo. I am careful not to watch ‘quack’ doctors but I am going to give this vitamin combo a go. Crystal imbalance in the ears is apparently common vertigo source. Please don’t think I’m giving medical advice just sharing. I am certain you will soon feel better. Very best wishes.
Hello. Ah ok, yes maybe i need to give betahistine more time then as I've been on it for about 12 days now. I spoke to the doctor on the phone yesterday and hes booked me to speak to another doctor tomorrow and said she may tell me to go in and see her as she does 'manipulation' which I think means exercises to help dizziness. I shall see how it goes! But will order some k2 as well to take alongside my vitD, and the gingko. Thanks a lot!
Hi, I have been on Betahistine 8mg x 5 per day for a couple of years now. I have kept off salt as much as I could and watched my caffeine intake. The tinnitus has fluctuated for about 5/6 years but the first few years the tinnitus was quiet - now its quite intrusive usually when I’m a bit stressed so for me, I don’t think Betahistine has worked. Although my ENT said ‘you don’t know what you would have been like now if you hadn’t taken it!’ I have cochlear hydrops in the right ear which makes you feel clogged up in that ear and I may have to have steroid treatment as it’s connected to too much fluid accumulating in the ear. I have read comments from other websites and many have benefited from Betahistine. My ENT is not a fan of prochloperazine and not keen to prescribe it. I’ve had some unsteadiness/non spinning vertigo lately which has been labelled as PPPD (you may wish to look up this. Best of luck.
Hello. Ah i see! I'm currently taking 16mg x3 per day. I did stop the prochloperazine after a few days as i felt there were slight side affects which is when I switched to betahistine. I just don't feel like its working, but I am quite impatient! I quit caffeine last year and try to watch my salt intake for other health reasons. I saw an ENT specialist about a year ago for T (this was following a crash) but it calmed down a lot the past year. Now it only lasts a short time and it's not everyday. I did enquire about ear drop but the doctor said theres no point as its inside so gave me Dymista nasal spray.
I just had a quick google search of PPPD and it could very well be, as my symptoms get worse when i'm stressed or anxious or if i'm doing anything too physical. I also don't get spinning, its more of an unbalanced feeling with slight dizziness but hard to describe. Thank you so much for your helpful advice! I will look more into PPPD
Yes, I think it may be useful to look into it further. I feel much the same as you have described your unsteadiness.. I think the anxiety regarding tinnitus can bring on something like PPPD. There are some useful medical articles online. I got Covid last year which aggravated my tinnitus and brought on this unsteadiness, I had never experienced it before or even heard of PPPD . Another thing helped me, which I’ve now resumed doing, are exercises. I found an excellent vestibular physiotherapist to help. I knew that I would probably have to wait ages on the NHS for this, so went private. The exercises really do help and give me confidence when walking around. Best wishes to you. Hope it clears up for you.
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Hi there. I spoke to a doctor yesterday and he said another will call me tomorrow and possibly tell me to go into the practise, I think she must specialise in this and does 'manipulation' as he put it which I assume means some of exercise but not sure! Will see how it goes. Thank you very much
I was prescribed Betahistine for T. Took it for quite a few years. It seemed to deaden the T, so it was more high pitched and in the background. An ENT specialist said it's a mental not physical problem 'that I'd just need to learn to live with'!😡Now my T is like white noise; I don't realise it's there unless I think about it, like now!
Oh how annoying they said that to you! But I am glad the Betahistine it helped a bit. Did the white noise start after you stopped the tablets? My T has calmed down the past year but not sure why, but I do still get a high pitched sound sometimes. I feel like the Betahistine hasn't really helped my vertigo but I will see how it goes! I will try to request to be referred to an ENT specialist. Thanks for your reply
Pleasure. Yes the white noise seemed to come on after I'd stopped the Betahistine; I was on it for about 4 years.Take care x
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