Vertigo -> Tranquilizers?

I’ve had a recurring vertigo issue for the past two, no, three months. If I happen to tilt my head in the wrong way, I have a feeling of dizziness that lasts for up to around thirty seconds. It goes away entirely for a period of time, but has been regularly reoccuring for three months now.

I finally accepted defeat and went to see the doctor again. He’s following standard practice on this, and prescribed me a medicine known to assist Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo — which seems to be what I have. I now have a bottle full of these little tablets (0.5mg) of Lorazepam. Lorazepam is commonly prescribed as a antianxiety pill. A tranquilizer, in other words.

I don’t know how much I can hope to expect when the warning on the bottle for my anti-dizziness medicine consists partially of, “May cause dizziness, lightheadness, uncoordination…” It hasn’t worked, except to make me feel extremely groggy. This is 14 hours after taking the medication. Fortunately, that may be hope coming soon: DizzyFix — it isn’t for sale yet, but the symptoms and treatment have matched so far, and since this is apparently something I can expect to be recurring forever, it seems like a valid investment.

In the meantime, I’ll take my tranquilizers and wonder how I’m supposed to go to work — the next step if one dose doesn’t work is to up it to one at night, and one in the morning.

Update: 2PM PST – corrected link.

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  1. john good says:

    The link you left doesn’t seem to work. I think you meant http://www.dizzyfix.com. Seems like a good product.

  2. Andrew says:

    Doh. Thanks, fixed it post.

  3. Tara says:

    I’ve been on the lorazepam for my anxiety in the past, but now only take it occasionally. I hear you on the grogginess- I take it to help me sleep. I have a cousin with Meniere’s Disease for which she takes Valium, so at least you don’t have to be that extreme with your tranquilization.

  4. Moira says:

    your website is killing me here.

    You need the Epley maneuver. Pls. go to vestibular.org and find the nearest person who can help you take care of this – looks like there’s someone in Everett. Look up the Epley maneuver while you’re at it.

  5. John Good says:

    The DizzyFIX takes you through the Epley maneuver. So if you know you have BPPV you don’t have to find a specialist. Just do it at home.

  6. Andrew says:

    The DizzyFix is also STILL not available for individual purchase, unfortunately.

  7. John Good says:

    The DizzyFIX is available in most countries (except the US) and was just featured in the Calgary Herald (http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/reallife/story.html?id=110a5190-d2f7-4756-875f-1386d2bd9048).

    I have had mine for 1 week and it is fantastic. Treated my BPPV first time I used it. I have had a number of repeated episodes so I expect I’ll need the DizzyFIX again. http://www.dizzyfix.com