I went to see my GP yesterday (for annual check-up). He's a new doctor and very nice. He admits that he doesn't know a lot about inner ear disorders but you can see that he wants to help me. He had a proposition for me and asked me if I was willing to try something. He said that a gentleman came to see him complaining of dizziness problems. He said that like me, he had seen many doctors, had many tests with no results (this man couldn't work). He suggested him to try "Gen Clonazepam" (family of benzodiazepines - this particular one is usually used for panick attacks and epilepsy - that I don't have) and it helped him a great deal. He was able to go back to work. He asked me if I was willing to try them, just to see if it worked. He told me it would take a few weeks for me to know if it's helping. Since I'm so fed-up battling this condition I agreed. He told me to take 1 -.5mg twice a day. When I had my prescription filled I asked the pharmacist more details about this drug. I had assumed it was an accumulative drug, but the pharmacist told me that usually this drug was to be taken when needed (ex: when having a panick attack), but told him I didn't have panick attacks, and explained to him why I was taking them for and what the doctor had told me. He thought that it was wierd, but told me that maybe the doctor read something about it that he was not aware of, and let me know if it worked out. He told me to start at a lower dosage to see if I had any side effects. Well just with half the dosage I feel drowsy, and at the moment don't see any change in the dizziness, but wonder if it can make a difference if I keep using it. I'm confused. Like most of you I hate medication. Should I try this???? I know it's highly addictive.

For those who don't know my history, I've been dizzy 24/7 for over 3 years.

I went to see my GP yesterday (for annual check-up). He's a new doctor and very nice. He admits that he doesn't know a lot about inner ear disorders but you can see that he wants to help me. He had a proposition for me and asked me if I was willing to try something. He said that a gentleman came to see him complaining of dizziness problems. He said that like me, he had seen many doctors, had many tests with no results (this man couldn't work). He suggested him to try "Gen Clonazepam" (family of benzodiazepines - this particular one is usually used for panick attacks and epilepsy - that I don't have) and it helped him a great deal. He was able to go back to work. He asked me if I was willing to try them, just to see if it worked. He told me it would take a few weeks for me to know if it's helping. Since I'm so fed-up battling this condition I agreed. He told me to take 1 -.5mg twice a day. When I had my prescription filled I asked the pharmacist more details about this drug. I had assumed it was an accumulative drug, but the pharmacist told me that usually this drug was to be taken when needed (ex: when having a panick attack), but told him I didn't have panick attacks, and explained to him why I was taking them for and what the doctor had told me. He found that it was wierd, but told me that maybe the doctor read something about it that he was not aware of, and let me know if it worked out. He told me to start at a lower dosage to see if I had any side effects. Well just with half the dosage I feel drowsy, and at the moment don't see any change in the dizziness, but wonder if it can make a difference if I keep using it. I'm confused. Like most of you I hate medication. Should I try this???? I know it's highly addictive.

For those who don't know my history, I've been dizzy 24/7 for over 3 years.

Hi Mica, well that sounds interesting. I think that the drug since its part of the benzo family is very likely to supress central nervous activity and hence calm a panic attack etc. I think that it would simply work by dulling down the messages sent from your inner ear to the brain. I guess its a little like taking Stugeron (although not benzo family) it suppresses the signals too. Well I guess anything is worth a shot, let us know how it goes. I must say that I could be at the height of dizzys and bouncing like mad and take a course of Stugeron and hey presto recovery within about 3 days. The only down side is that its not good for the old compensation. But like you at the 3 year mark, who cares! I really hope it helps you, best to stick with it and then at least you can tell if it helps or not. Oh and the other possibility is that the other man had 'anxiety' dizzyness hence him feeling better. I am no expert lol, just adding my thoughts in. Hope you are better soon! Best wishes

it's the same as valium and I would think that it might help some of the issues/symptoms.....

But, I wouldn't take it on a continual basis after the two weeks of his proposed trial...only on the days you're feeling so off that functioning is very difficult and only at a low dosage at that.

Yes, some doctors do prescribe it daily .... but it's not a treatment perse with lasting results....to me it's a bandaid treatment short-term.

It could definitely be an important part of a med "arsenal".... but for specific symptoms, not long term.

My perspective,
quincy