New to Forum - Q. re: Propranolol hydrochloride
Pakushka
I am new to this forum.. hope that at least a few of you visit here on
a regular basis to give your opinion..I hope the following will make
some sense! here goes.. :
My background... I am 26, female and first experienced vertigo around a
year and a half ago. I took antibiotics after that incident as the
doctor I saw thought that I had a sinus infection.. well, the vertigo
seemed to go away for about 2 weeks.. but then slowly came back again.
It is always worse before my period, and always improves vastly after a
course of antibiotics, but then comes back..
I have had a CAT scan, an MRI, I saw an ontonuerologist who tested my
ears in every way, and I had a whole range of blood tests. Nothing
unusual showed up in any of these tests.
My neurologist put it down to migraines, as I do get migraines
occassionally, and prescribed me propranolol hydrochloride (brand name
Deralin here in Australia).
I have not yet taken the medication as I am not sure that I want to
delve right into taking a drug that may make me dopey etc.. give me
nightmares..
The reason I question my neurologist's diagnosis is because my vertigo,
although worse at some times than others, is a CONSTANT.. so there is
never a time that upon walking, I do not feel vertigoed. At this point
he has ruled out MS, which i was obviously concerned about being a
young woman and having vertigo on a constant basis. Also, my vertigo
becomes at its most severe after I have been walking for say a period
of 5 minurtes and I become puffed out or something. I always have to
hold on to the traffic lights pole because the vertigo appears worse
when i am trying to stand still..!!
This is so depressing for me, which is an emotion that im sure some of
you can relate... I am young and want to get out and do things.. but
find that i am often relucatant due to my condition..
I was wondering if anyone has any advice for me, for instance anyone
who may get vertigo under the same conditions.. or if anyone has tried
this drug that my neuro wants me to take??
I would really appreciate your reply ;)
Cheers
Pakushka in Aus... ;-)
pedro
I was diagnosed with Meniere's Syndrome (my ENT also writes it as
Endolymph Hydrops) that most frequently involves just one ear and
permanent hearing loss, ringing and fullness sensation on the affected
ear. Meniere's affects me in episodes - mild dizziness may come for a
few days, spinning vertigo could incapacitate me for a few hours, but
fortunately and after 11 years or so, most of the time I am OK.
I think that Meniere's is suspected when other possible dizziness
causes are tested out. CAT Scan/MRI discarded brain tumors, several
tests ruled out cardiovascular/liver causes; lupus and MS were also
excluded. Given the presence of fullness, hearing loss and ringing on
my right ear, my ENT concluded Meniere's.
As for medications, valium/diazepam in 2.5 or 5 mg a day may reduce my
occasional dizziness and does not affect my daily routine at work and
home. Antivert (don't remember its dosis) made me sleepy all day long.
During bad spells, I become tired and I understand that this is due to
the brain trying to correct dizziness, and these attempts of
self-correction is what became encouraging to me. Consider tinnitus or
ringing/buzzing/unwanted noises in an affected ear: these noises are
permanent; once set, chances are that they will never stop. During the
first few weeks/months they get into normal hearing, hamper sleep, etc.
After a few months, the noise does not stop but is less obtrusive;
some time later, one has to think about it to notice it. Seems to me
that the motion/dizziness control mechanisms may react in similar
manner: the dizziness causes may continue, but the body learns to
counteract them.
Best wishes,
Pedro
judy.n
ear problem--a virus knocked out my nerve about 30 years ago. I was
basically stable until 3 years ago when I swung my head in a yoga
class, and got vertigo that literally knocked me down. I had been
having bouts of vertigo, but could handle them. I was treated for
benign positional vertigo--a crystal in the wrong place--but only got
worse. Ultimately, I saw a second specialist, and he feels that I have
migraine associated vertigo on top of my nerve damage. Due to other
medications, I couldn't take the usual prophylactic medications, so I
take the migraine supplments--magnesium 400mg/day, coQ10 150 mg/day,
riboflavin 400mg (huge dose)/day, one fish oil a day. I'm also on
klonopin to suppress the vertigo.
My daughter has it as well and suffered horribly before she started
on notriptyline--she's on 30 mg a day for the last year: she's 18. It
does have side effects, but the weight gain and dry mouth are worth not
being dizzy all the time.
Here's a good article on the topic:
http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic727.htm
Good luck. It's a miserable feeling, and "you don't look sick" so
it's hard for people who don't have it to understand.
Judy