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Is Dizziness While Moving The Head A Symptom Of Inner Ear Infection?
Question: I woke up this AM with dizziness. The dizziness presents when I move or tilt my head. I suspect an inner ear infection but don't know what other symptoms there might be associated with such an infection to help confirm that.
Brief Answer:
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Dizziness at this age may be drug related, inner ear infection or vascular events.
Is sertraline being taken for long and no dose increments recently?
Is there any hearing loss, headache, walking difficulties, facial deviation, Numbness over face, limb weakness?
Any fever?
Any history of diabetes or hypertension?
You should take adequate fluid and anti vertigo medication like promethazine or cinnarizine or betahistine.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Take treatment as advised
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Dizziness at this age may be drug related, inner ear infection or vascular events.
Is sertraline being taken for long and no dose increments recently?
Is there any hearing loss, headache, walking difficulties, facial deviation, Numbness over face, limb weakness?
Any fever?
Any history of diabetes or hypertension?
You should take adequate fluid and anti vertigo medication like promethazine or cinnarizine or betahistine.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me for further queries.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
In reply to your questions, I've been taking the sertraline / Zoloft for 15 years at 50 mg throughout that period. There have been no changes in the doses of my other meds.
There hasn't been any hearing loss associated with this episode, nor do I have a headache, walking difficulties once the dizziness passes, numbness in my face limb weakness or fever. I have no history of diabetes or hypertension, although both of these diseases are present in older family members (parents, aunts and uncles.
It sounds like the anti-vertigo meds you note would all require an Rx.
Is there any way, short of an exam by my PCP, to determine if this is an inner ear infection, and if it is, how does it get treated and what steps can be taken to mitigate it until I can get an apt w/my PCP? (This is a holiday weekend.)
Thanks, XXXXXXX
There hasn't been any hearing loss associated with this episode, nor do I have a headache, walking difficulties once the dizziness passes, numbness in my face limb weakness or fever. I have no history of diabetes or hypertension, although both of these diseases are present in older family members (parents, aunts and uncles.
It sounds like the anti-vertigo meds you note would all require an Rx.
Is there any way, short of an exam by my PCP, to determine if this is an inner ear infection, and if it is, how does it get treated and what steps can be taken to mitigate it until I can get an apt w/my PCP? (This is a holiday weekend.)
Thanks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Take rest and medication
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Vestibular neuronitis occurs most commonly following a viral illness.
If all other symptoms are absent then possibility of vestibular neuronitis can be kept if the dizziness is continous.
In case dizziness last for seconds to minutes then possibility of being paroxysmal positional vertigo may be considered.
For treatment you should take adequate fluid.
These drugs should be available over the counter and if not available you can go for Flunarizine.
Vertigo exercises can also be done, the videos available on Internet.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Take rest and medication
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Vestibular neuronitis occurs most commonly following a viral illness.
If all other symptoms are absent then possibility of vestibular neuronitis can be kept if the dizziness is continous.
In case dizziness last for seconds to minutes then possibility of being paroxysmal positional vertigo may be considered.
For treatment you should take adequate fluid.
These drugs should be available over the counter and if not available you can go for Flunarizine.
Vertigo exercises can also be done, the videos available on Internet.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Answered by
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