Tag: Meniere’s Treatments

Treatments for Meniere’s Part 2 – Medication

On By WendyIn Meniere's Disease7 Comments
image from zazzle.com

Treatment with Medicine – I’ve tried both Antiviral and Immuno-suppressant drugs, neither of them worked for me.  The thought behind these treatments?  Some doctors believe that there could be a link between Meniere’s and the Herpes Virus, or that it is an auto-immune disease.  I don’t know if either of these are true, but some people get relief from these treatments.

Other drugs I’ve been on: Antivert or Meclizine (meclizine hydrocloride)- this is a vestibular sedative, it is prescribed to help with the dizziness.  (I think it rather ironic that one of the side effects from this medication can be dizziness.)  This worked for a while, when I was having slight dizziness, but it didn’t help stop the vertigo.  As my symptoms progressed I was put on Valium (diazapam), this is another vestibular sedative.  I had much more success with this drug at preventing the vertigo.  However, I had to take more than was recommended to help stave off an attack.  Another drug that has been very beneficial to me has been Phenergan.  This is an anti-nausea drug that is also a vestibular sedative.  I had it in pill form and suppository.  If I start to feel dizzy I immediately take a Valium and a Phenergan, sometimes that’s all I’d need.  Other times, I would continue to feel bad, like an attack was imminent, and I would need more.  I would then take another Valium and a Phenergan suppository.  I don’t know if it’s just me or not, but often I would feel like I desperately needed to go to the bathroom and the first suppository would come right out.  I would then use another and often that would do the trick and an attack would be averted.

However, sometimes I would have an attack no matter how much I tried to avoid it.

I’ve also been on a diuretic.  I know I’ve been on more than one, but the last one I was on was Dyazide (hydrochlorothiazide and triamterene).  The thought behind this treatment is the same as with a Low Salt Diet.  It is used to reduce bodily fluids especially the fluid in the endolymphatic area.

As with the low salt diet, I’m not sure if this worked or not for me.  I was always afraid to stop either the low salt diet or the diuretic for feat that my symptoms would increase.  I was taken off of the diuretic after my latest treatment  (the Cerebral Spinal Fluid treatment), and my symptoms have been under control.

Not really Medicine, but thought I’d include Supplements – I’ve tried many supplements that promised help with tinnitus and Meniere’s.  I didn’t find any help from these.  However, some patients swear by them.   (Dr. Kaylie said there were no scientific evidence that any supplement actually helped, but if some people found relief he was all for it.)

For even more information on these therapies and other treatments for Meniere’s go to Meniere’s Info.com.

Please leave a comment telling what Medication Therapy you have tried, and how it has helped, or hasn’t.  If you have a blog, be sure to leave that address so others can read about your experiences.

Next Post: Treatments for Meniere’s Part 3 – Endolymphatic Surgery

Treatments for Meniere’s Part 1- Diet

On By WendyIn Meniere's Disease4 Comments

In the next few posts I’m going to focus on some of the many treatments for Meniere’s and direct you different personal blogs for people who have tried these treatments so you can go and read how they have worked with other people.

Remember, different treatments for different people.  Treatments that work (or don’t work) for some people, may not work (or work) for others.  The important thing is that there are many options to help control our symptoms, and there are new options being developed.  Don’t give up hope.  I almost did and it nearly killed me.  There is a big difference in accepting that we have this illness and giving up hope that something may help.

Of course the first treatments I should talk about are the treatments I have undergone.

image from newsformyhealth.com

Change your Diet – Normally, when you are first diagnosed with Meniere’s you are put on a Low Sodium diet.  I’ve heard differing opinions as to how much sodium is enough without getting too much.  At first I was told to keep my sodium intake at about 2,000 mg per day (1 teaspoon), then it was lowered to 1,000 a day, then I was told that wasn’t enough and I should shoot for 1,500.  You should discuss with your doctor about a recommendation for you.  The theory behind this treatment is that we have too much fluid in the endolymphatic system, and staying on a low sodium diet should reduce this fluid.  This seems to work for many people.  Even if it doesn’t totally relieve their symptoms, it helps, and I’ve heard many people say that when they have eaten too much salt their symptoms gets worse.  How did this work for me?  I continued to have attacks despite how little sodium I ate.  I really didn’t see a difference for me.  I don’t think a lot of sodium is good for anyone and I still don’t eat a lot of salt.  I’ve gotten so used to not eating salt I really enjoy the taste of the food I’m eating without salting it.  My total sodium consumption per day is normally between 1000mg and 1500mg.

I was also told to avoid alcohol and keep caffeine consumption to a minimum.  I found that alcohol in a trigger.  I can have a glass of wine now and then, but that’s about it.  If I consume too much alcohol, for me that means a couple of drinks, then I get dizzy and that can trigger a vertigo attack.  I don’t consume much caffeine at all.  I will have the occasional small piece of Dark Chocolate, and I may drink one drink with caffeine in it once a week or less.  I don’t feel great when I consume too much caffeine, but I’ve never felt like it triggered my Meniere’s.

Some people have a hard time with too much sugar, chocolate, nicotine…

I don’t eat a lot of sugar, if I do have too much I find that I get very jittery and can get dizzy.   I love a good little piece of Dark Chocolate.  I only have a small amount when I eat chocolate, usually less than an ounce.  It doesn’t seem to cause me any problems.  However, Milk Chocolate has too much sugar and I can only have it in very small quantities.

I’ve never smoked, so nicotine isn’t a factor for me.  However, I have problems being around cigarette smoke.

Avoid triggers – I know this isn’t necessarily diet, but it could be if you are allergic, or intolerant to different foods.  Different people have different triggers.  Some people have food allergies and they can be a trigger.  I have a wheat allergy and can’t tolerate gluten at all, so I have cut that out of my diet.  This did improve my symptoms.  Especially the brain fog.

I also have asthma, but it isn’t bad.  However, if I am around strong scents (like perfume, cigarette smoke, or gasoline, among others) I will have an asthma attack.  I have found this to be a trigger for me, so I try to stay away from strong scents.

Many people who have allergies find that they will increase their symptoms.  I suffer from allergies (grass, some trees, dust…).  Whenever my allergies are acting up, my Meniere’s symptoms get worse.

Stress – Stress is often a trigger for Meniere’s patients.  I think stress can be a trigger for me, but I’m not sure.  Sometimes when I had increased stress I would have an attack, other times I wouldn’t.  I think stress is hard on anyone for many reasons, not just Meniere’s, so I suggest you try to reduce your stress as much as possible.

Again, this is just my experience.  Everyone is different.  You can read more about treatments for Meniere’s on Meniere’s Info.com.

Next post: Treatment of Meniere’s Part 2 – Medication

Please comment on your experience with changing your diet.  Have you tried this?  Did it help?  Did your doctor tell you something different?