Myth: Meclizine helps balance.

TRUTH: A commonly prescribed medication, called Meclizine, doesn’t help balance.

Meclizine is a medication which reduces the stimulus from the ear to the brain. There are other medications which have a similar effect as well. This can reduce the sensation of severe vertigo and help out with nausea and vomiting. The problem is that it usually just makes people really sleepy. Why? Because it is an antihistamine, like Benadryl.

When we need better balance, meds don’t really help. So what can we do?

Well, balance requires more stimulus from the ear to the brain, not less.

What really helps is physical therapy for the balance system. This is called “vestibular rehab”. This can really make a big difference is restoring normal function to the balance system and getting back to a normal life.

Read more about Vertigo in my post here.

Read more about exercises you can do at home to improve balance here.

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Teach & Learn, EarErin ShellenbergerOctober 19, 2020myth, balance, vertigo, ear