This is my first post to the forum although I have had MD for about 15 years. At present I am going through a bad spell with a few attacks a day. They are not the severest attacks I have experienced but bad enough to put me to bed for an hour or so. I am currently on Betahistine tabs, which I have been since being first diagnosed with MD. I find them quite ineffective really. I read on another site that someone had been prescribed Valium for their MD with significant improvement to their condition. I can undertand this being effective as most of my day is taken up waiting anxiously for signs of the next attack and trying to cope with my severe deafness in everyday conversations anything to reduce the anxiety and stress would be a blessing. Has any member tried Valium and what was the result is my query? Many thanks
I've used Valium many times. But it doesn't seem to work real well for me unless I get it via IV. If I take it as a pill, it takes too long to metabolize and I end up puking it up before it does any good. Benzos do work for some when taken sublingually. That is a good option, but as rrmehta says, dependence and tolerance can become a problem depending on how often you are taking them. I have found a certain green flowering plant that is good at controlling nausea and anxiety to be highly effective in low doses in controlling vertigo attacks. It is available recreationally and medicinally in my state so I am fortunate.
Rod I have a prescription for Ativan to be taken only at the start of an attack - not for ongoing use. I started anti virals about a year ago and have been doing well - not sure if you had checked out anti virals. On the previous board I remember some people posting about being prescribed klonopin. It addressed the anxiety and potential depression resulting from this disease; if those are kept under control it stands to reason that would be helpful to reduce attacks. For me I have to focus always on making sure that I get enough sleep. Fatigue and stress were my major triggers. Important to note, my Ativan prescription taken as an attack starts, the pill is placed under the tongue which gets into the system faster and also ensures that you don't lose the effectiveness if the attack mades you vomit. Honestly just knowing that pill will minimize the length of my attack put a lot of anxiety at bay. For me, making it through 1 - 1 1/2 hrs seems more mentally doable than 4-6 hrs. Little things!
Hi Rod I take 5 mgs of Valium under my tongue but only when needed for vertigo attacks. My OTO doesn't want me taking it daily for fear of my possibly becoming addicted to it. Sometimes it will fend off an attack completely and other times it will just help shorten the duration of an attack. If I'm feeling just a little off or slightly dizzy I can often times get by with 12.5 mgs of Meclizine instead.