Labyrinthitis - advice needed

[Julia7]

Hi everyone,

I am currently suffering with Lab...had it now for two weeks. ENT consultant said it would probably go within three weeks. I am a secondary school teacher and due to return to work after having all this time off. Is there anything I can take to help with the dizziness and nausea? Is it best to lay down or keep moving? I was prescribed Betahistine (Serc) but I am not sure it did anything...any advice welcomed! The tinnitus with it is nearly driving me mad!

Julia

[bantam12]

Stugeron travel pills work well for me.

[Julia7 in reply to bantam12]

Funnily enough, my parents just bought them to me...took two and hour ago!

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

😕I have permanent, progressive Vestibular problems myself, so I really empathise. It is horrible when any movement brings on vertigo. If you can, move around rather than lying, or sitting still.

Treating labyrinthitis

Symptoms can be relieved with medications, including:

prescription antihistamines, such as desloratadine (Clarinex)

medications that can reduce dizziness and nausea, such as meclizine (Antivert)

sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium)

corticosteroids, such as prednisone

over-the-counter antihistamines, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or loratadine (Claritin)

Shop OTC antihistamines now.

If you have an active infection, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics.

In addition to taking medications, there are several techniques you can use to relieve vertigo:

Avoid quick changes in position or sudden movements.

Sit still during a vertigo attack.

Get up slowly from a lying down or seated position.

Avoid television, computer screens, and bright or flashing lights during a vertigo attack.

If vertigo occurs while you’re in bed, try sitting up in a chair and keeping your head still. Low lighting is better for your symptoms than darkness or bright lights.

If your vertigo continues for a long time, physical and occupational therapists can teach you exercises to help improve balance.

Vertigo can interfere with your ability to operate a car or other machinery safely. You should make other arrangements until it’s safe to drive again.

Long-term outlook

In most cases, symptoms will resolve within one to three weeks, and you’ll experience a full recovery in a few months. In the meantime, symptoms such as vertigo and vomiting may interfere with your ability to work, drive, or participate fully in sports. Try to ease back into these activities slowly as you recover.

If your symptoms haven’t improved after several months, your doctor may want to order additional tests to rule out other conditions if they haven’t already done so.

Most people only have a single episode of labyrinthitis. It rarely becomes a chronic condition.

Copied from healthline.com

[Julia7 in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you so much for this. So very informative! I’ve taken Betahistine but not sure it did anything? Felt very fuzzy on it. Now taking Stugeron for travel sickness/dizziness. Will see what happens....

Thanks again!

[Albuf]

Good Morning! The best you can do is to one appointment with a Doctor to check your internal ear, i had the same and the the Doctor found that the cristal's of the internal ear are out of place. With simple manovers he can put them on place again...

[Jmansonkennedy90]

Iv been on betahistine for almost two years for bilateral meniere's disease, defo worked for Me, stopes the vertigo but doesn't really do much for the tinnitus tbh.you get used to the tinnitus after a while and block it out, it was so horrible the first few months.

[Enchanted70 in reply to Jmansonkennedy90]

Hi there, could you please advise if you take betahistine still? Ive been taking a month now, but feel like im getting better. I think the tablets make me feel a bit weird, but scared to stop in case they are the reason for the improvement in dizziness and balance.

Tia

[geoffrewin]

Hi Julia I found Betahistine worked after about 2 weeks I’ve had these issues since early feb so coming up to 12 weeks .. I was given Betahistine for two weeks and then asked to stop to see if my issues had resolved ..not unsurprisingly they hadn’t and went back on Betahistine the following day thinking (excuse the pun ! ) things would quickly balance out ..but another seven days in and back to dizziness etc ..has anyone else been on Betahistine and stopped then restarted ..if so how long before they ‘kick’ back in ? Can I also be cheeky and ask ..if screens (Laptop, IPad, phone etc) really upset you ..I can only last about 15 mins at a time ?

Thanks really appreciated and good luck ..it really is horrible !