List of Medications That Cause Dizziness

We’re all too familiar with the long list of side effects that come with medications. And as you’re trying to figure out the source of your vertigo, you might start questioning: What medications cause dizziness?

Obviously, the intention is not to develop a drug that leads to people getting dizzy. However, researchers have recognized some common patterns in medications that cause dizziness as a side-effect.

Medications That Can Cause Dizziness

Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common disorders in medicine, affecting approximately 20-30% of people in the general population. Among all of the side effects from medications, dizziness is by far the most common. In fact, the Physicians’ Desk Reference lists dizziness as a possible side-effect of nearly every medication.

Most notably, here are a few prescription and nonprescription medications known to cause dizziness or balance issues (as reported by this study and this study):

• Antibiotics
• Antidepressants
• Anti-seizure medications
• Blood pressure medicines
• Pain medicines
• Sedatives, sleeping pills, and muscle relaxants
• Medicines used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
• Among many others

“Dizziness may be caused, or made worse, by taking a combination of drug products or by drinking alcohol with your medication,” says Barb Young, an editor at the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists.

Therefore, if you’re getting frequent dizzy spells, you should first consult your doctor. Sometimes changing medications or the dosages is an easy fix.

However, it’s worth noting that the medications might not be the source of your dizziness.

Other Causes of Dizziness

Dizziness is the symptom of nearly everything, which makes it particularly hard for a person to pinpoint the source of their problem on their own.

From dehydration to balance disorders to infections to something more serious, there’s an exhaustive list of things that can be causing your dizziness. This is why we caution you against blaming your medications right away.

It’s best to seek help from a Vestibular Lab, such as the Dizzy & Vertigo Institute. We specialize in the balance system and finding the source of your dizziness. At which point, we design a personalized treatment program that fits your needs and addresses the cause of your dizziness.

If you’re experiencing frequent or random dizzy spells, then we encourage you to reach out to us at (310) 954-2207 or fill out our contact form.

We look forward to helping you!