Labyrinthitis

Treatment Overview

Labyrinthitis usually goes away on its own within a few days to weeks. If labyrinthitis was triggered by a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. Viral infections cannot be cured with antibiotics.

Additional treatment is intended to keep you comfortable until the labyrinthitis goes away. Medications called vestibular suppressants may be prescribed to reduce symptoms.

• Antiemetics, such as Compazine or Phenergan, control severe nausea and vomiting.
• Antihistamines reduce nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Examples include diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
• Corticosteroids reduce inflammation. One example is methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol).
• Scopolamine reduces vomiting. An example is Transderm-Scop, a patch that is placed on the skin behind the ear.
• Sedatives reduce vomiting, nausea, and anxiety. These include clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium, Valrelease), and lorazepam (Ativan).

If a bacterial infection has injured your inner ear, you may continue to have symptoms of vertigo even after the infection has healed. Over time, your body should adjust to the confusing signals from the balance sensory systems that falsely tell your brain to detect motion that isn't occurring. The vertigo will eventually improve or disappear completely. This process is called compensation. Remaining as active as possible speeds compensation. Unfortunately, medications may slow compensation and should only be taken for 1 to 2 weeks.

What To Think About

Be sure to take your medications exactly as prescribed. And do not stop taking them even if you feel better; otherwise, the infection may not go away.

Persistent vertigo may be caused by other conditions and should be evaluated by your health professional.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: July 13, 2006
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology
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