Over-the-counter vertigo remedies, herbs, and powerful home remedies

The sensation of the room spinning, your head floating, and the nausea you experience due to vertigo can make you feel helpless. Take it easy, there are many choices of vertigo medications that can be used to treat your condition. Let's look at and thoroughly examine what vertigo is and what vertigo medications are effective.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a condition in which you feel the environment around you spinning or floating. Vertigo is a condition that can occur suddenly or last for a certain period of time.

Vertigo can also be characterized by the sensation of a wobbly body, shaking head, feeling that you are not standing firmly, making it difficult for you to stand or walk. If you have vertigo, you may also feel your head spinning or that the world around you is spinning, and be nauseous to vomiting.

What causes vertigo?

Source: Ties Magazine

The cause of vertigo is often caused by problems with the way the ears work in regulating the balance of the body. Vertigo can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain, as well as certain head movements that can trigger vertigo.

When you move your head, the inside of your ear will tell you where your head is and then send signals to the brain to maintain balance. However, if there is a problem in the inner ear, then you will feel pain and dizziness. Some of the other causes of vertigo are as follows:

• Migraine or headaches
• Labyrinthitis, is an infection of the inner ear that can affect your hearing and balance.
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a balance disorder that can cause vertigo when the position of the head changes.
• Meniere's disease, is an inner ear disorder caused by fluid buildup and changes in pressure on the inside of the ear. This can be a cause of vertigo along with ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss.
• Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, is a disorder of the inner ear due to infection (usually caused by a virus) around the nerves that are important to help balance the body.

In addition, vertigo can also be caused by the following conditions:

1. Dehydration

Sometimes vertigo is caused because you are dehydrated. It is recommended to consume enough mineral water to keep the body hydrated and avoid symptoms of vertigo. Monitor your water intake and if your vertigo recurs frequently, try to avoid hot, humid, and sweating conditions that may make you lose more fluid in your body.

2. Vitamin D deficiency

Vertigo can be caused because you rarely eat foods that contain vitamin D. A study quoted from Healthline shows that vitamin D deficiency can worsen symptoms for people who have BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), the most common cause of vertigo. Drinking a glass of whole milk without sugar, drinking orange juice, eating tuna, and even eating egg yolks can also increase your vitamin D levels. Ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels so you can anticipate eating more foods containing vitamin D or even taking vitamin D supplements.

3. Drink mostly alcohol

Dizziness due to the effects of drinking alcohol is common. But who would have thought that the alcohol you consumed could make your vertigo worse? In fact, according to the Vestibular Disorders Association, alcohol can change the composition of the fluid in your inner ear. Apart from that, alcohol also makes you dehydrated. These things can affect your balance even when you are conscious. Reducing alcohol consumption, or even quitting completely can help your vertigo symptoms improve.

What are the symptoms of vertigo?

The most common symptoms of vertigo are nausea, vomiting, headache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and the sensation of the head turning or floating. Usually, symptoms can last minutes, hours, or days. Here are other symptoms of vertigo:

• Unusual eye movements, for example from left to right or from top to bottom quickly
• Cold sweat appeared
• Ringing in ears
• Hearing disorders
• Visual disturbances, for example objects that are seen as if duplicated
• Reduced level of consciousness

Various vertigo medication options

Vertigo medications that are commonly used are:

1. Meclizine

Meclizine is an antihistamine-type vertigo medication to prevent and relieve symptoms of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting due to motion sickness. Meclizine can be used to treat vertigo caused by inner ear problems.

The usual dose of meclizine for vertigo medication in adults is 25 mg orally 1-4 times a day or 50 mg orally 2 times a day. This medicine is available by prescription or over the counter at pharmacies.

2. Promethazine

Promethazine is an antihistamine drug used to treat nausea and vomiting associated with certain conditions (for example, after surgery or vertigo).

The usual dose of promethazine for nausea and vomiting in adults is 12.5 to 25 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Usually, this vertigo medication will require a prescription.

3. Diphenhydramine

Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine. This vertigo medication works by blocking the effects of certain chemicals (histamine) that cause nausea and vomiting due to vertigo. You can get this medication without a prescription at the nearest pharmacy.

The usual dose of diphenhydramine for vertigo and nausea and vomiting in adults is 25-50 mg orally every 6-8 hours. Give an initial dose 30 minutes before exposure to movement and repeat before meals and before travel.

4. Dimenhydrinate

Dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine medication to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Dimenhydrinate can also be used as a vertigo medication.

The usual dose of dimenhydrinate as a vertigo medication for adults is 50 to 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours, up to a maximum of 400 mg in 24 hours.

5. Lorazepam

Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine-class vertigo drug that acts on the brain and central nervous system to produce a calming effect. Lorazepam is a vestibular depressant, which is a drug to reduce nystagmus (eye movement) caused by a vestibular imbalance, or a drug to reduce motion sickness.

The usual dose of lorazepam as a vertigo medication for adults is 0.5 mg twice daily.

The above information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

Are there other vertigo medications besides the doctor's?

Depending on the cause, some simple things you can do at home to relieve your complaints without vertigo medication. For example:

1. Sleep

Lack of sleep is one of the things that causes vertigo. Therefore, a good night's sleep and enough may be a vertigo cure for you.

2. The Epley maneuver

If the vertigo comes from the side of the left ear:

• Sit on the edge of the bed. Tilt your head 45 degrees to the left (don't touch your shoulders). Place a soft pillow under you so that when you lie down, the pillow tucks between your shoulders instead of under your head.
• With one swift motion, lie down (with your head on the bed but still tilted 45 degrees). The pillow should be under the shoulder. Wait 30 seconds for the vertigo to stop.
• Tilt your head 90 degrees to the right without lifting it. Wait 30 seconds.
• Change the position of your head and body to the right side, so that you are looking at the floor. Wait 30 seconds.
• Sit slowly, but remain in bed for a few minutes.
• If the vertigo is coming from the right ear, reverse the instructions above.

3. The Foster maneuver

• Kneel and looked up at the ceiling for a few seconds.
• Touch the floor with your head, tuck your chin into your chest so that your head tucks into your knees. Wait 30 seconds.
• Turn your head towards the ear that is the source of the vertigo (if vertigo is coming from the right ear, turn your face to the right elbow). Wait 30 seconds.
• In one swift motion, raise your head so that it is parallel to your back while on all fours. Keep your head at a 45 degree angle. Wait 30 seconds.
• Raise your head in one swift motion so that it is completely upright, but keep your head turned to the side of the affected body (to the right, in the example above). Then, stand up slowly.

You may have to repeat this maneuver several times to relieve your vertigo. After the first half, rest for 15 minutes before trying again for the second time.

Natural vertigo remedy

Even though you have been taking vertigo medication from a doctor, sometimes the vertigo symptoms you feel are so strong that you need other helpers. Take it easy, you can relieve vertigo attacks with simple and natural ingredients that you can find in the kitchen.

Check out the information below to find out what spices can save you from vertigo attacks.

1. Ginger

Source: Medical News Today

The benefits of ginger have long been recognized as an effective remedy for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. In addition, ginger can also improve blood circulation so that the brain will get oxygen supply from the blood. If the vertigo recurs due to a viral or bacterial infection, the function of ginger as an anti-inflammatory can help you faster.

To relieve vertigo use ginger spices, brew ginger root or ground ginger with warm water or tea. You can also add a little mint leaves in the brew to get rid of nausea.

Apart from treating inflammation, drinking ginger water can prevent dehydration, which can make the vertigo symptoms that attack you worse. Because of its versatility, you can use ginger as a spice for vegetables, soups, and various other dishes if the taste of ginger is too strong for your tongue.

2. Gingko biloba

Experts have agreed that ginkgo biloba, a plant that is widely grown in Asian countries, can help relieve vertigo.

Ginkgo biloba is able to trigger blood circulation to the head, brain and inner ear. In addition, this ancient plant that can live for hundreds of years is rich in antioxidants that are useful for preventing damage to brain cells and nerves.

You can make use of the dried ginkgo biloba leaves by brewing them with the tea leaves in warm water. Apart from using the leaves, you can also mix ripe ginkgo biloba seeds into dishes such as porridge and stir-fry vegetables as a natural flavoring.

At this time there are also many ginkgo biloba extract supplements that are sold in pharmacies, but you must be careful and consult your health professional first because the supplements that are sold contain chemicals that have the risk of having certain side effects.

3. Red pepper

Red pepper (also known as cayenne pepper) has recently become a popular spice among lovers of a healthy lifestyle. Apparently, red pepper is also good for people with vertigo.

This spice, which is usually available in powder form, is rich in capsaicin, which can balance the platelets (platelets) and increase blood flow to the brain and inner ear. Capsaicin is also effective in relieving headaches that are felt when vertigo recurs. You can use red pepper as a spice in cooking or a mixture of lemon water drinks.

4. Coriander

Coriander seeds are one of the most common spices in Indonesia. The reason is, this cooking spice is very easy to find in markets or supermarkets and has so many uses. Who would have thought, you can use coriander seeds as a vertigo reliever.

Coriander functions as an anti-inflammatory to fight viral or bacterial infections that cause vertigo. In addition, coriander is also rich in iron which can help increase and improve blood circulation in the body.

5. Basil leaves

Basil or basil is a plant whose leaves are often used as a food flavoring because of its strong aroma. Experts believe that this plant, which is widely grown in India and other Asian countries, will help vertigo sufferers control the symptoms that appear because basil leaves have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition, basil leaves can also reduce the sensation of a spinning head while maintaining the health of your blood vessels.

How to prevent vertigo from recurring?

There are several things you can do to prevent vertigo from recurring and to help relieve the symptoms of vertigo, namely:

• Do simple exercise,
• Sleep with your head slightly raised. You can use two or more pillows under your head so that your head is higher than your body.
• Get up from sitting or from sleep slowly. Sit for about a minute before getting out of bed.
• Avoid bending over to pick up things, especially suddenly.
• Avoid lifting your neck up high, for example when you want to pick up an item on a high shelf.
• Move your head slowly during activity.