Treatment

Reassurance, explanation and advice are important in the management of the condition (1).

Symptomatic treatment with antivertiginous medications (e.g. prochlorperazine 5mg tds) should be given only in the first few days since they may delay recovery by affecting central compensation mechanisms (1).

Antiviral therapy with or without corticosteroids has not been shown to be of any benefit (2).

Twice-daily vestibular rehabilitation exercise (after improvement of acute vertigo by medication) may cause rapid and complete compensation of vestibular function (3).

Reference:

• 1. Hanley K, O'Dowd T, Considine N. A systematic review of vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2001;51(469):666-71
• 2. Strupp M, Brandt T. Diagnosis and treatment of vertigo and dizziness. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2008;105(10):173-80
• 3. Swartz R, Longwell P. Treatment of vertigo. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71(6):1115-22