My mother has episodes of dizziness when she sits down or stands up. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

This question is regarding my mother, who is 57 years old. She is getting episodes of dizziness from the last one and a half or two years. Most of the time, they are mild, and they occur for few seconds when she gets up or sits down. Sometimes, they stay long and are associated with nausea and other symptoms. And few months, she does not have any symptoms. She does not have any other complaints like headaches or muscle weakness, and she does not have diabetes or hypertension. But, she gets migraines from the last 15 years, for which, she takes Melzap 0.25 mg. She also takes Vertin 16 mg for insomnia and anxiety. These medicines reduce her episodes, but they do not stop them completely. What could be the reason for it? Is it something to worry about?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

No, it is not something to worry about. Her symptoms and response to Vertin (Betahistine), although incomplete, suggest that these are originating from the internal ear, which is the most common cause of dizziness in old age. This occurs due to age-related changes leading to abnormalities in the balancing system of the ear. Also, a recurrent viral infection of the ear aggravates these and precipitates the episodes, and it is called as labyrinthitis. However, we should rule out other causes in old age like postural hypotension, and slow heart rate called as bradycardia. So, if you have a blood pressure apparatus, you could check her BP at home. You should measure her BP and pulse rate at rest in lying down position, then make her stand for three minutes, then measure again either at the end of the three minutes or the beginning of dizziness if it occurs before the end of three minutes. Drop of blood pressure more than 15 to 20 is significant.

The treatment is mostly done with medicine like Vertin 16 mg up to three times. If the patient is not responding, then tablet Vertigon (Cinnarizine) 25 mg up to three times a day can be tried. Also, an ENT specialist will teach exercises for this, which can be done at home.

Hope this helps you, and get back if you have any doubts.

My mother has episodes of dizziness when she sits down or stands up. Why?

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