Vertigo

2 medicines

Vertigo is a false sensation of spinning or movement, most often caused by an inner-ear disturbance. Medicines can reduce episodes and relieve the accompanying nausea.

Compazine

Prochlorperazine

5mg

Compazine is a digestive health medication containing Prochlorperazine, available as 5mg tablets.

from $0.46 / tablet View

Serc

Betahistine

8/16/24mg

Serc is a neurology medication containing Betahistine, available as 8/16/24mg tablets.

from $1.19 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning when there's no actual movement, most often traced to the inner ear.
  • The commonest cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV); Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis are other frequent causes.
  • Betahistine reduces the frequency of Meniere's attacks; prochlorperazine treats acute episodes with significant nausea.
  • Seek urgent care if vertigo comes on suddenly with headache, double vision, slurred speech, or weakness on one side.

What vertigo is

Vertigo is the feeling that you or the world around you is spinning when there is no actual movement. It's not a fear of heights but a genuine disturbance of balance, most commonly traced to the inner ear. Episodes can last seconds or persist for hours, and are often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and difficulty walking steadily.

What causes it

The commonest cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear shift out of place. Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis are other frequent culprits, often triggered by a preceding viral upper respiratory infection.

Managing spinning episodes

Treatment targets both the underlying balance disorder and the accompanying nausea. Betahistine works on the histamine receptors of the inner ear to improve fluid regulation and reduce the frequency and severity of attacks, making it the mainstay for Meniere's disease. For acute episodes with significant nausea, prochlorperazine helps suppress the vomiting reflex and eases the sense of spinning. Both sit within the broader neurology range.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention promptly if vertigo comes on suddenly with headache, double vision, difficulty speaking, or weakness on one side, as these may indicate a more serious cause requiring urgent assessment. Recurrent or persistent vertigo without these features still deserves a diagnosis, since treatment differs by cause.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.