Several medications used in daily life can cause dizziness as a side effect, and some of the main ones are antibiotics, anxiolytics and pressure-control drugs, for example, a situation that is more common in the elderly and people who use different medications.
Each type of medicine can cause dizziness in different ways, interfering with balance in different ways, with some causing other symptoms such as imbalance, vertigo, tremor, lack of strength in the legs and nausea. Thus, examples of the main drugs that cause dizziness are:
- Antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals: Streptomycin, Gentamicin, Amikacin, Cephalothin, Cephalexin, Cefuroxime, Ciprofloxacin, Clarithromycin, Metronidazole, Ketoconazole or Acyclovir; Remedies to control pressure or heartbeat: Propranolol, Hydrochlorothiazide, Verapamil, Amlodipine, Methyldopa, Nifedipine, Captopril, Enalapril or Amiodarone; Anti-allergens: Dexchlorpheniramine, Promethazine or Loratadine; Sedatives or anxiolytics: Diazepam, Lorazepam or Clonazepam; Anti-inflammatories: Ketoprofen, Diclofenac, Nimesulide or Piroxicam; Asthma remedies: Aminophylline or Salbutamol; Remedies for worms and parasites: Albendazole, Mebendazole or Quinine; Anti-spasmodics, used to treat colic: Hyoscine or Scopolamine; Muscle relaxants: Baclofen or Cyclobenzaprine; Antipsychotics or anticonvulsants: Haloperidol, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin or Gabapentin; Parkinson's remedies or movement disorders: Biperiden, Carbidopa, Levodopa or Seleginine; Remedies to control cholesterol and triglycerides: Simvastatin, Atorvastatin, Lovastatin or Genfibrozila; Chemotherapy or immunosuppressants: Cyclosporine, Flutamide, Methotrexate or Tamoxifen; Remedies for prostate or urinary retention: Doxazosin or Terazosin; Remedies for diabetes, because they cause a drop in blood glucose in the bloodstream: Insulin, Glibenclamide or Glimepiride.
Some medications can cause dizziness from your first dose, while others can take several days to cause this effect, so medications should always be investigated as a cause of dizziness, even when used for a long time.
How to relieve dizziness caused by medications
In the presence of dizziness, it is important to consult with the general practitioner or otorhinologist to investigate the possible causes of this symptom, and whether or not it is associated with the use of medicines.
If confirmed, changing the dose or replacing the medication may be recommended, however, if this is not possible, some tips can be followed to alleviate the problem:
- Using a cane or adjusting the environment: it is important to keep the rooms of the house lit, and changing furniture, carpets or steps that can harm the balance. Installing support in corridors or using a cane when walking can be good ways to prevent falls; Practice vertigo control exercises: they can be guided by a doctor or physiotherapist to restore balance, called vestibular rehabilitation. In this way, sequences of movements are made with the eyes and head to reposition the canaliculi of the ears and reduce the symptoms of vertigo; Practice physical activity regularly: to train balance, especially with regular practice, to improve agility and muscle strength. Some activities work with balance more intensely, such as yoga and tai chi, for example; Do breathing exercises: useful in times of greater dizziness, in a ventilated and comfortable place, can control discomfort; Use other medications to control vertigo, such as Dramin or Betaistin, for example: they can be tried to help control symptoms, when it is not possible otherwise.
In addition, it is important to note other changes that may be impairing balance, such as loss of vision, hearing and sensitivity of the feet, for example, more common situations in the elderly. In addition to the remedies, check out the other main causes of dizziness in people of all ages.
