How to manage vestibular neuronitis?
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A middle aged man was going through some paperwork with his neck inclined forward. When he raised his head, he experienced the abrupt onset of horizontal spinning that was accompanied by nausea. The sensation lasted approximately 30 minutes. The next morning, after eating breakfast, the patient sat down on the couch, and with no apparent provocative movement. He experienced the abrupt onset of similar horizontal vertigo, which was accompanied by nausea and eventually by vomiting. This episode lasted six to eight hours. He now feels "off". How to manage vestibular neuronitis?
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@zenith Treatment consists of managing the symptoms of vestibular neuritis, treating a virus (if suspected), and participating in a balance rehabilitation program. Managing symptoms. When vestibular neuritis first develops, the focus of treatment is to reduce symptoms. Drugs to reduce nausea include ondansetron (Zofran) and metoclopramide (Reglan). If nausea and vomiting are severe and not able to be controlled with drugs, patients may be admitted to the hospital and given IV fluids to treat dehydration. To reduce dizziness, drugs such as meclizine (Antivert), diazepam (valium), compazine and lorazepam (Ativan) are prescribed. The different types of drugs used to reduce dizziness are group together and called by the general name, vestibular suppressants. Vestibular suppressants should be used no longer than three days. They are not recommended for long-term use and may make recovery more difficult.