Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment for meniere's disease

by Humberto Kris Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Medication

Treatment begins with conservative measures, including low salt diet, avoidance of stress and caffeine, and sleep hygiene. Medical therapy with a diuretic is the usual next step. If that fails to control symptoms, then the options of intratympanic (IT) steroids and betahistine are discussed.

Procedures

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Therapy

10 rows · Apr 06, 2021 · Treatment of Meniere’s disease focuses either on lowering inner ear fluid (endolymphatic) or ...

Nutrition

Treating Meniere’s Disease. Since many types of hearing loss are irreversible, Meniere’s disease treatment focuses mainly on reducing the symptoms of vertigo. Treatment includes medication, surgeries, therapies, and home care. Meniere’s Disease Medications

What is Meniere's disease, and is it curable?

Dec 02, 2020 · Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can lead to dizzy spells (vertigo) and hearing loss. In most cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear. Meniere's disease can occur at any age, but it usually starts between young and middle-aged adulthood.

How do medications treat Meniere's disease?

Jan 15, 2020 · Surgery is usually only a treatment option for Meniere’s disease when all other treatments haven’t worked. Surgery is primarily used to eliminate debilitating episodes of vertigo.

Does cannabis treat Meniere's disease?

How long before remission Meniere's?

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What is the most effective treatment for Meniere's disease?

Diuretics are the most commonly prescribed maintenance medications for Meniere's disease. Diuretics work by restricting the overproduction of fluid in the inner ear. Diuretics are long-term medications. They help reduce the number of vertigo attacks, and in some cases, they help stabilize hearing.

What is the latest treatment for Meniere's disease?

The new drug to relieve the symptoms of tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss in those with Meniere's disease is on the fast track in the new drug application process. The drug is called SPI-1005 and is a product of the Sound Pharmaceuticals company.Feb 6, 2020

What triggers Meniere's disease?

Potential causes or triggers of Meniere's disease include: Head injury or history of concussions. Infection to the inner or middle ear. Allergies. Alcohol use.

How long does Meniere's disease last?

These symptoms typically happen all at once and can last minutes or hours, but most commonly last 2 to 3 hours. The condition usually starts in 1 ear, but can spread to both ears over time. It can take a day or 2 for the symptoms to disappear completely. You may feel tired after an attack.

Does drinking water help Meniere's disease?

Drink lots of water - This may sound counterproductive as Meniere's is the result of too much fluid in the inner ear. However, if the cause of Meniere's has to do with a virus, a pathogen, or a bacteria, drinking lots of water can flush these things out of the body.May 27, 2018

What vitamins help Meniere's disease?

According to their hypothesis, vitamin D supplementation may indeed have a beneficial effect in Meniere's disease if the symptoms are caused by a local postviral autoimmune reaction. Vitamin D has a strong immunomodulatory role, one of which is the regulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators.Apr 24, 2018

What are the three stages of Meniere's disease?

Meniere's disease has phases: an aura, the early stage, attack stage, and in-between. There is also the late-stage of Meniere's disease.May 24, 2020

How serious is Meniere's disease?

Complications. The unpredictable episodes of vertigo and the prospect of permanent hearing loss can be the most difficult problems of Meniere's disease. The disease can unexpectedly interrupt your life, causing fatigue and stress. Vertigo can cause you to lose balance, increasing your risk of falls and accidents.Dec 2, 2020

Does Meniere's cause fatigue?

Meniere's itself is not an underlying cause of fatigue, anxiety, or depression. However, the unpredictable nature of the symptoms as well as the long-term ramifications of episodic vertigo, hearing loss, and other troublesome issues associated with Meniere's can greatly affect your quality of life.

Does Ménière's disease get worse with age?

Meniere's is a progressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. It may start slowly with occasional hearing loss. Vertigo may develop later. If you're dizzy, sit or lie down right away.Jun 16, 2020

Does Ménière's disease lead to dementia?

The results indicated that the patients with Ménière's disease developed all-cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and vascular dementia more frequently than those in the comparison group during the 11-year follow-up period.Dec 31, 2021

What is the difference between vertigo and Ménière's disease?

Meniere's disease can cause sudden and often disabling symptoms, including the following. Severe dizziness: Extreme feelings of unsteadiness may result in nausea or vomiting. Vertigo: Vertigo is the sensation of feeling as if you are moving or the world is spinning around you even if you're standing still.Jul 27, 2021

What is Ménière's disease?

What is Ménière’s disease? Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière’s disease usually affects only one ear. Attacks of dizziness may come on suddenly or after a short period ...

How is Ménière's disease diagnosed?

How does a doctor diagnose Ménière’s disease? Ménière’s disease is most often diagnosed and treated by an otolaryngologist (commonly called an ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT). However, there is no definitive test or single symptom that a doctor can use to make the diagnosis.

What is the cause of vertigo in Ménière's disease?

In Ménière’s disease, the endolymph buildup in the labyrinth interferes with the normal balance and hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain. This abnormality causes vertigo and other symptoms of Ménière’s disease.

How long does vertigo last?

Two or more episodes of vertigo lasting at least 20 minutes each. Some doctors will perform a hearing test to establish the extent of hearing loss caused by Ménière’s disease. To rule out other diseases, a doctor also might request magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain.

What is the labyrinth of the ear?

The labyrinth in relation to the ear. The labyrinth is composed of the semicircular canals, the otolithic organs (i.e. , utricle and saccule), and the cochlea. Inside their walls (bony labyrinth) are thin, pliable tubes and sacs (membranous labyrinth) filled with endolymph. Credit: NIH/NIDCD.

What are the two parts of the labyrinth?

The labyrinth contains the organs of balance (the semicircular canals and otolithic organs) and of hearing (the cochlea). It has two sections: the bony labyrinth and the membranous labyrinth. The membranous labyrinth is filled with a fluid called endolymph that, in the balance organs, stimulates receptors as the body moves.

What is the best therapy for anxiety?

Cognitive therapy . Cognitive therapy is a type of talk therapy that helps people focus on how they interpret and react to life experiences. Some people find that cognitive therapy helps them cope better with the unexpected nature of attacks and reduces their anxiety about future attacks. Injections.

What is the best treatment for Meniere's disease?

Antivirals: A professional may prescribe antiviral drugs like Acyclovir to Meniere’s patients whose condition originates from a Herpes virus. Diuretics: What we might call a “water pill,” diuretics are among the first medication treatments given to those with Meniere’s Disease.

How many symptoms are there for Meniere's disease?

There are four classic symptoms of Meniere’s Disease that a doctor looks for when taking your history and doing an exam. Unfortunately, each one of these symptoms can point to another physical problem altogether.

Does Meniere's disease have over the counter medications?

There is no one medication that allays all the symptoms of Meniere’s Disease. Rather, there are both over-the-counter and prescription medications that target symptoms to decrease them and increase the time between Meniere’s vertigo attacks.

What are the symptoms of vertigo?

Other Conditions that may Cause Vertigo: Anxiety, circulation problems, dehydration, poor diet, brain disorders, injury to the head or neck, and ear infections. 2. Hearing Loss: People with Meniere’s often experience hearing loss during an attack.

How long does vertigo last?

Meniere’s vertigo is not like a short loss of balance. The swirling, moving sensation in an attack lasts 20 minutes or more (sometimes all day!). Sometimes vertigo becomes so severe as to cause a drop attack.

Can vertigo cause nausea?

This is where someone drops to the floor, unable to get up. Drop attacks also often manifest in severe nausea. Some people are fortunate in that their drop attacks are rare. Two-thirds of all Meniere’s patients find their vertigo subsides with time.

What causes hearing loss?

Other Conditions that may Cause Hearing Loss: aging, meningitis, shingles, diabetes, hypertension, ear infections, and abnormal bone growth in the ear. 3. Tinnitus: Otherwise known as ringing in the ear, people with Meniere’s sometimes experience an internal sound.

How to treat Meniere's disease?

Treatment of Meniere’s disease focuses either on lowering inner ear fluid (endolymphatic) or controlling symptoms. No treatment cures the disease, so treatment is a trade-off of improving symptoms with the fewest side effects. Treatment will start with the most conservative treatments: diet, physical therapy, and medications to control vertigo.

What is the diagnosis of Meniere's disease?

The diagnosis of Meniere’s disease is made from an assessment of symptoms, hearing tests, eye tests, and imaging. Many patients may start with a general practitioner or emergency room physician, but the condition will be definitively diagnosed and treated by an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.

What is the cause of ringing in the ears?

What is Meniere's disease? Meniere’s disease is a condition in which fluid builds up in the inner ear. Swelling in the inner ear causes vertigo (spinning sensation and dizziness), ringing in the ears ( tinnitus ), hearing problems, and pressure or “fullness” in the ear.

How long does vertigo last?

The defining symptom of Meniere disease is unpredictable episodes of vertigo that last longer than 20 minutes. Vertigo feels like one’s head or the world is spinning around. In Meniere’s disease, vertigo can sometimes be severe, last for hours, and take several days to recover from.

What is the term for a disorder of the inner ear?

Meniere’s is a chronic and slowly progressive disorder of the inner ear that can interfere with daily life. Severe cases can be disabling, making people unable to work or perform daily functions, such as driving. As a progressive disease, Meniere’s passes through three separate stages.

Does salt reduce fluid in the ear?

Reducing sodium in the diet may help lower the fluid build-up in the inner ear, helping to prevent Meniere disease attacks. A salt-restricted diet is a first-line therapy for Meniere’s disease.

Is there a medication for Meniere's disease?

Meniere’s disease is not perfectly understood. For this reason, medications are used to relieve symptoms of Meniere’s while minimizing side effects. Not every medicine works the same in every person, so there is no best medication for Meniere’s. Best medications for Meniere’s disease.

What is the best medication for meniere's disease?

Your doctor may prescribe medication to reduce the fluid levels in the ear and treat nausea or vomiting. An anti-nausea medication called promethazine is commonly prescribed.

What is Meniere's disease?

Meniere’s disease produces a group of symptoms that are similar to other medical conditions. Even an experienced doctor may find it challenging to determine if they are caused by the disease. Therefore, various tests may be required to make an accurate diagnosis.

How to tell if you have Meniere's?

Unlike other causes of hearing loss, the symptoms of Meniere’s can be difficult to spot and differentiate from other conditions that lead to hearing impairment. When symptoms do show they may include the following: 1 Episodes of sudden and extreme dizziness (vertigo) 2 Nausea or vomiting due to dizziness 3 Blurred vision 4 Uncontrolled eye movements 5 Spinning sensation 6 Loss of balance 7 A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ear 8 “ Ringing” in the ears (Tinnitus) 9 Muffled sounds 10 Sensitivity to sound

Why do people lose hearing?

It can affect anyone and can be caused by various factors such as birth defect, aging, trauma, exposure to loud noise, medication, and hearing loss can be caused by Meniere’s disease.

What is the rarest hearing disorder?

Meniere’s disease is a rare hearing disorder that affects the inner ear. Approximately 0.2% of people in the US have this medical condition that mostly affects persons in the 40’s to 60’s. Hearing loss caused by Meniere’s disease usually starts in one ear and may later affect both ears.

How long does vertigo last?

Your doctor will perform an audiological or hearing test for hearing loss. If you’ve experienced vertigo episodes lasting between 20 minutes to 12 hours, this can point to the condition. In addition, difficulty hearing low-frequency sounds or a mixture of low and high pitches may indicate hearing loss or complications caused by Meniere’s disease.

Can hearing aids help with Meniere's disease?

Hearing Aids for Hearing Loss Caused by Meniere’s Disease. Another treatment for hearing loss caused by Meniere’s disease are hearing aids. Fortunately, today’s hearing aids are much different than the hearing aids of yore. Today’s digital hearing aids are smaller and offer the ability to do more than ever.

How to tell if you have Meniere's disease?

Signs and symptoms of Meniere's disease include: 1 Recurring episodes of vertigo. You have a spinning sensation that starts and stops spontaneously. Episodes of vertigo occur without warning and usually last 20 minutes to several hours, but not more than 24 hours. Severe vertigo can cause nausea. 2 Hearing loss. Hearing loss in Meniere's disease may come and go, particularly early on. Eventually, most people have some permanent hearing loss. 3 Ringing in the ear (tinnitus). Tinnitus is the perception of a ringing, buzzing, roaring, whistling or hissing sound in your ear. 4 Feeling of fullness in the ear. People with Meniere's disease often feel pressure in an affected ear (aural fullness).

How long does vertigo last?

Episodes of vertigo occur without warning and usually last 20 minutes to several hours, but not more than 24 hours. Severe vertigo can cause nausea. Hearing loss. Hearing loss in Meniere's disease may come and go, particularly early on. Eventually, most people have some permanent hearing loss.

What is the name of the disorder that causes dizzy spells?

Meniere's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can lead to dizzy spells (vertigo) and hearing loss. In most cases, Meniere's disease affects only one ear. Meniere's disease can occur at any age, but it usually starts between young and middle-aged adulthood.

Can vertigo cause permanent hearing loss?

The unpredictable episodes of vertigo and the prospect of permanent hearing loss can be the most difficult problems of Meniere's disease. The disease can unexpectedly interrupt your life, causing fatigue and stress. Vertigo can cause you to lose balance, increasing your risk of falls and accidents. By Mayo Clinic Staff.

What organs help you keep your eyes focused on a target?

Semicircular canals and otolith organs — the utricle and saccule — in your inner ear contain fluid and fine, hairlike sensors that help you keep your eyes focused on a target when your head is in motion and assist in helping you maintain your balance.

Does Meniere's disease cause aural fullness?

People with Meniere's disease often feel pressure in an affected ear (aural fullness). After an episode, signs and symptoms improve and might disappear entirely for a while. Over time, the frequency of episodes may lessen.

What are the symptoms of Meniere's disease?

People with this condition typically experience episodes of: vertigo. tinnitus. loss of hearing. fullness or pressure inside the ear. Vertigo makes you feel like you’re spinning, dizzy, and lightheaded, with a loss of balance.

What organs are affected by Meniere's disease?

When you have Meniere’s disease, too much fluid clogs up the tiny inner ear organs that regulate hearing and balance. As a result, Meniere’s disease causes problems with: balance. movement.

What is the auditory system?

The auditory system gives people their sense of hearing. The disease is named after the French doctor Prosper Meniere. Meniere’s disease affects an inner part of the ear called the labyrinth. The bony labyrinth is made up of three parts, which include the: vestibule. semicircular canals.

How long does it take for tinnitus to go away?

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, people with Meniere’s disease can experience these symptoms for 20 minutes to 4 hours at a time. They also usually have the condition in one ear.

Does water help with Meniere's disease?

Water and diuretics. Water retention makes Meniere’s disease worse, but this doesn’t mean you should stop drinking fluids. It’s more important that you avoid fluids that contain large amounts of sugar and salt, such as soda or concentrated juices, which make you retain water.

Does alcohol cause vertigo?

Caffeine and alcohol also interfere with your body’s ability to regulate fluid levels, which can make the inner ear worse, causing headaches, pressure, and vertigo. The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products can constrict the blood flow to the inner ear, making all symptoms worse.

Can NSAIDs cause water retention?

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) Antacids are packed with sodium, which will cause water retention. Drugs like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), which is an NSAID, can also cause water retention and interfere with electrolyte balance. An electrolyte balance is important for the regulation of inner ear fluid.

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Treatment

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Coping and Support

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
The treatment includes medication, surgery or rehabilitation therapy to reduce episodes of vertigo, and hearing loss.
Medication

Motion sickness medications: Helps control the episodes of vertigo.

Meclizine . Diazepam


Antinausea medications: To prevent nausea and vomiting.

Promethazine


Diuretics: To reduce fluid retention. It is usually prescribed with reduced dietary salt intake.

Chlorthalidone . Furosemide . Hydrochlorothiazide


Middle ear injections: To reduce episodes of vertigo.

Gentamicin . Dexamethasone

Procedures

Endolymphatic sac procedure: Decompression can be brought about by removing the overlying bone, making an incision in the dura or stenting it open.

Vestibular nerve section: Vestibular nerve is removed. This helps in correcting vertigo and also maintaining the hearing in the affected ear.

Labyrinthectomy: Portion of the ear which controls balance is removed, usually done upon total hearing loss in the affected ear.

Therapy

Hearing aid:To improve hearing in the affected ear.

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy:In case experiencing imbalance, to improve balance, Usually recommended in severe cases.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Low sodium food like fresh fruits or vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • Canned foods as it contains high salt or sodium content
  • Processed foods like cured or smoked meats, bacon, hot dogs and sausage
  • Packaged foods like macaroni cheese and rice mixes
  • Snack foods like chips or crackers

Specialist to consult

Otolaryngologist
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the ear, nose and throat.
Neurologist
Specializes in treating diseases of the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the nerves.

Treatment

  • No cure exists for Meniere's disease. A number of treatments can help reduce the severity and frequency of vertigo episodes. But, unfortunately, there aren't any treatments for the hearing loss.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Prognosis

  • Certain self-care tactics can help reduce the impact of Meniere's disease. Consider these tips for use during an episode: 1. Sit or lie down when you feel dizzy.During an episode of vertigo, avoid things that can make your signs and symptoms worse, such as sudden movement, bright lights, watching television or reading. Try to focus on an object that isn't moving. 2. Rest during and aft…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Symptoms

  • Meniere's disease can affect your social life, your productivity and the overall quality of your life. Learn all you can about your condition. Talk to people who share the condition, possibly in a support group. Group members can provide information, resources, support and coping strategies. Ask your doctor or therapist about groups in your area or look for information from th…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Causes

  • You're likely to first see your family doctor. Your primary care doctor might refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, a hearing specialist (audiologist), or a nervous system specialist (neurologist). Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
See more on mayoclinic.org

Medical uses

  • When you have a condition that has no known origin, it makes it hard to find an effective treatment. Many times, youre left with trying to suppress symptoms rather than stopping them entirely: Such is the case with Menieres disease. Menieres is a rare, chronic disorder that affects a persons balance and hearing. Only .2% of the population receive a Menieres diagnosis. The rar…
See more on menieres.org

Overview

  • If we pull back the curtain of a Menieres Disease diagnosis, we find someone who has never heard of this condition and has no clue exactly what the prognosis is as for daily living. Its also frightening when your doctor says, Theres no known cure. The best way to overcome your fears is by learning about Menieres symptoms, triggers, and medications that can improve how you feel…
See more on menieres.org

Mechanism of action

  • There are four classic symptoms of Menieres Disease that a doctor looks for when taking your history and doing an exam. Unfortunately, each one of these symptoms can point to another physical problem altogether. The key is seeing all of them manifest in a patient, sometimes individually over time and sometimes in tandem. 1. Vertigo: Long lasting dizzy spells are what g…
See more on menieres.org

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