Benign Positional Vertigo (cont.)
Medical Author:
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM
Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEMDr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Medical Editor:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. IN THIS ARTICLE
Medical TreatmentThe definitive treatment for BPPV requires that crystals causing inflammation in the semicircular canals be moved out of those canals. This can be done by the Epley maneuvers, where the head is taken through a series of position changes that allow the crystals to be emptied out of the canals. Epley maneuvers require a special skill set, first to know which canal the crystals are in, and second, how to "shake" the head to get them removed. Some physicians, as well as specially trained physical therapists are skilled in this procedure, which can take a patient from being immobile with intense nausea and vomiting, to become functioning normally with no symptoms during the treatment session. If a person without these skills is not available, medication may be helpful in decreasing or resolving symptoms. In an emergency situation when a patient presents with intractable vertigo and vomiting, intravenous diazepam (Valium) may be useful in decreasing inflammation in the labyrinths. In less severe cases, over the counter medications like meclizine (Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine II, D-Vert) may be helpful. Next Page: Must Read Articles Related to Benign Positional Vertigo
Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis means an inflammation of the inner ear structure called the labyrinth. Sometimes the term labyrinthitis refers to other causes of inner ear proble...learn more >>
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Benign Positional Vertigo »
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is probably the most common single cause of vertigo in the United States.
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