Drug treatment of vertigo in neurological disorders

ABSTRACTVertigo is a common symptom in everyday clinical practice. The treatment depends on the specific etiology. Vertigo maybe secondary to inner ear pathology, or any existing brainstem or cerebellar lesion but may also be psychogenic. Centralvertigo is a consequence of a central nervous system lesion. It is often associated with a focal neurological deficit. Peripheralvertigo is secondary to dysfunction of the peripheral vestibular system and is usually characterized by an acute vertigo withloss of balance, sensation of spinning in the space or around self, and is exaggerated with changes of the head and bodyposition; no other neurological deficit is present. Some medications may also cause vertigo. Depending on the cause ofthe vertigo, drugs with different mechanisms of action, physical therapy, psychotherapy, as well as surgery may be usedto combat this disabling malady. Symptomatic treatment has a particularly important role, regardless of the etiology ofvertigo. We reviewed the current medications recommended for patients with vertigo, their mechanisms of action and theirmost frequent side effect