A sensation that the room is spinning or that you are moving when you are not. Most commonly caused by inner ear problems but can occasionally signal a serious neurological condition.
Help the person sit or lie down immediately in whichever position reduces the spinning sensation most. Falling is the main immediate danger.
Keep the environment quiet and still. Reduce visual stimulation — dim the lights if possible.
BPPV (benign positional vertigo) — the most common cause. Brief intense spinning that lasts less than a minute, triggered by specific head movements such as lying down, looking up, or rolling over in bed. Resolves on its own with specific head repositioning exercises.
LABYRINTHITIS or VESTIBULAR NEURITIS — prolonged dizziness lasting days, following a recent ear infection or viral illness. Usually improves with rest and time.
For nausea and vomiting with vertigo: prochlorperazine (Stemetil) or cyclizine from a pharmacy provides relief.
For BPPV: the Epley manoeuvre — a sequence of head movements performed lying down — can resolve symptoms within minutes. Ask a pharmacist or nurse to demonstrate or look up the steps carefully.
Encourage the person to focus on a fixed point in the distance when moving — this helps the brain compensate.
Avoid sudden head movements until the episode passes.
Stay hydrated — dehydration worsens dizziness significantly.
Dizziness with sudden severe headache — possible brain bleed.
Dizziness with double vision, difficulty swallowing, or slurred speech — possible stroke.
Dizziness with one-sided weakness or facial drooping.
Hearing loss and ringing in the ear with new onset dizziness — Meniere's disease.
Dizziness after a head injury.
Episode lasts more than 24 hours without improvement.
Do not drive or operate machinery during a vertigo episode.
Dizziness with other neurological symptoms is not simple vertigo — get medical help immediately.
Dizziness caused by standing up quickly is usually low blood pressure — sit back down slowly and rise gradually.
New onset dizziness in anyone over 60 with cardiovascular risk factors needs medical assessment.
✓ What Helps
· Prochlorperazine 5mg (Stemetil) — reduces vertigo and nausea effectively
· Cyclizine 50mg — anti-nausea for vertigo episodes
· Ginger — natural anti-nausea remedy for milder symptoms
✗ What To Avoid
· Alcohol worsens all forms of dizziness
· Driving or any activity requiring balance during an episode
→ Ask The Pharmacist For
· Prochlorperazine tablets or buccal tablets for acute vertigo
· Betahistine — for recurrent vertigo, requires prescription
· Referral for vestibular physiotherapy if BPPV is recurrent
🏥 Get Professional Help
Go to hospital immediately if dizziness is accompanied by severe headache, any neurological symptoms, facial drooping, or weakness. See a doctor for dizziness lasting more than 48 hours, hearing loss, or dizziness following a head injury.