Brief Answer:
Lightheadedness of no concern per internist

Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon sir. My name is Dr. Dariush Saghafi and I'm a neurologist in the XXXXXXX OH region of the world. I've read your history as well as another's colleauge's impressions as well as your response. I think I would have to agree to a point with her recommendations since even though you are clean with respect to the other symptoms and even though your internist isn't concerned about it...my interpretation of that fact that you wrote the question is because you're not 1000% convinced that there isn't maybe even a LITTLE TINY something to be worried about something. I think that's accurate....since why would you pay to ask questions if it's clear that your internist wouldn't?

Having said that, I also agree that "common things are common" and so we should not look to discover things that just ain't there....'ya with me?

However, as a neurologist I can tell you that the literature is REPLETE with case study after case study of people who experience nothing more than the most minor dizziness, lightheadedness, tiredness, vertigo as a single solitary symptom without anything else....pay no attention to it and then, find out because of a stroke, heart attack, etc. and then, it's a matter of..."Geez, wish we would've not let that person just blow something off so easily....." Or something like that.....therefore, I think somewhat of a neurological workup is in order, after which you can rest at ease in the fact that no vascular anomalies or pathologies exist so then, your symptom is truly of no signficance.

But also, common things are common. Amlodipine is a blood pressure pill and is relatively new to your regimen. It is NOTORIOUS for causing symptoms of lightheadness, dizziness, vertigo, AND NOTHING else.....

The rest of the meds likely have little to nothing to do with your symptom because you've on them for years.

And so, my best advice to take a look at what's going on is to seriously consider Amlodipine as a potentially bad actor and to ask your doctor if he could try and something else to substitute and see what happens. If you get cured,
you're done, your physician looks like a genius, and everybody is happy! Also, don't forget that side effects can come about as a result not only from a DIRECT activation by the drug of a certain organ or organ system but also there could be DRUG TO DRUG INTERACTIONS.

But in parallel I would definitely recommend (if you were my patient) an MRA (NOT NECESSARILY AN MRI), of the head and neck. I would bypass the ultrasound and carotid dopplers because I believe the MRA is more sensitive plus we'd be able to save a little money. I see no point in doing an MRI of the brain at this point and the other you might consider is a variation of an entity called BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). I can't argue against a cardiac event monitor such as a Holter that could measure at least 1 week's of information if not 2 (I always order 30 days)...and of course, an ECHOCARDIOGRAM. And if all of that is negative then, I would get some labs such as thyroid studies, Vitamin D, and a Urinary analysis.

Well, if you think any of this information was useful to you would you please send me a bit of a written feedback and a STAR RATING as well as CLOSING THE QUERY if you have no further comments or questions.

You can also write questions directly to me by using the following link: http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68474

This query required 29 minutes of physician specific time for review, recommendations, and final draft readied for envoy.

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