Vestibular Migraine Treatment: What Works and What to Avoid
When you feel like the room is spinning, even when you’re sitting still, you might be dealing with a vestibular migraine, a type of migraine that affects the inner ear and balance system, causing dizziness, vertigo, and motion sensitivity without always including a headache. Also known as migraine-associated vertigo, it’s not just a bad headache—it’s a full-body disruption that can last hours or even days. Unlike regular migraines, vestibular migraines don’t always hurt. Instead, they make you feel off-balance, nauseous, or sensitive to movement—like the floor is tilting under your feet. This isn’t just bad luck; it’s a neurological issue tied to how your brain processes motion signals from your inner ear.
Many people with this condition also struggle with migraine triggers, specific factors like stress, sleep loss, certain foods, bright lights, or hormonal shifts that set off attacks. For some, it’s cheese or red wine. For others, it’s skipping meals or staring at screens too long. Tracking what happens before each episode helps pinpoint your personal triggers. And while balance disorders, a broader category that includes conditions like BPPV or Meniere’s disease, often mimic vestibular migraine symptoms, the key difference is the migraine connection—your brain’s wiring, not your ear structure, is the problem.
So what actually helps? There’s no one-size-fits-all fix, but proven strategies include preventive meds like beta-blockers or antiseizure drugs, anti-nausea pills during attacks, and lifestyle tweaks like regular sleep, hydration, and avoiding known triggers. Physical therapy focused on vestibular rehabilitation can retrain your brain to handle motion better. And yes, reducing screen time and managing stress aren’t just buzzwords—they’re science-backed tools that cut attack frequency. You don’t need to live in constant dizziness. The right mix of treatment and self-awareness can bring you back to normal.
Below, you’ll find real-world guides on what medications work, how to spot triggers before they hit, and what to do when vertigo strikes. No theory—just what people have tried and what actually made a difference.
Explore betahistine's 2025 price, PBS coverage, effectiveness, and hidden costs to decide if the medication is worth the expense.
Oct, 23 2025