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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
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Australian Prescriber Vol. 28 No. 4 2005
Dizziness
Dizziness or a sense of unsteadiness is a common problem, but has many different causes. Usually the cause is not a serious illness.
Common causes of dizziness include vertigo, migraine and inflammation of the balance organs in the ear. There are several different causes of vertigo, but they make patients feel that everything is spinning around them.
Doctors usually try to diagnose the cause of dizziness by asking patients to tell them when the dizziness occurs, how long it lasts, how severe it is and if there is any change in the hearing. Although there might not be an obvious cause special tests are not always needed.
The treatment of dizziness depends on the cause. Sometimes no treatment is required. If there is no obvious cause some medicines may help, but they are not always effective.
