Hi sorry to hear about your dizziness. Apparently it is a combination of Ssri and vrt exercises to retrain the brain is what docs keep telling me. Do you suffer with imbalance feelings or is it dizziness. Are you left with visual vertigo when too much stimuli sets you off like in shops. Have your symptoms got any better since your post. Hang in there.

imbalanceman: Thanks for your reply. I haven't had an episode of vertigo since the onset Fall 2012. I have both balance and dizziness all the time. Not severe, disabling condition but constant whenever I am moving (especially when my head is changing positions - mostly up & down movements - like bending over.)

Extreme lighting changes & visual overload also increase my sensations of dizziness. I think I am noticing that my level of hydration & fatigue also seem to increase the sensations of dizziness - lightheadedness & pressure in my head.

Interesting about the SSRI info because I am beginning to wonder if my own emotional state (anxiety and maybe mild depression) may be contributing to and/or exacerbating this chronic condition. Initially one of my first doctors gave me a small Rx for Valium to help me get through the initial vertigo. When I use the Valium I have no sensations of dizziness.

I still have a few pills from this old Rx and I have usesd half of a 5 mg tablet if the sensations were intolerable out in public. Now a new doctor nixed the Valium and wants me to try Prozac for depression. So enter SRRI's into the mix. Hmmm . . . still thinking about this . . .

Just wondering if others are getting healing after using Rx drugs for depression or anxiety - or just temporary relief from symptoms???
In my mind, side effects from Rx drugs are always a big problem and a major consideration - always so many unknowns.

One thing is known: this conditions sucks! I guess we just have to "keep calm and carry on". Thanks again for the post. Peace & healing prayers to all.

I know what you mean about meds side effects I have tried several and had very bad reactions. currently on amitriptyline and only get dry mouth and pee a lot. it also makes me sleep forever. Been on for 4 months and I have almost no anxiety at all and it takes away the sensation you feel in your head. it will require time for this to happen it needs to get into your blood around 3 - 4 weeks. Anxiety is a normal reaction to ear problems as it messes with your central nervous system. Drs and specialist use the word anxiety to palm you off with pills rather than dealing with the initial source of the problem. For me 100% of my issue is my left ear. every balance or sensation is centered only around the same area of the ear since day 1 but I just can not get anyone to listen. All this due to a virus, it amazes me that its so hard to cure with todays medicines and the NHS waiting times are ridiculous, I waited 6 months to see ENT then 3 more months to get told to take pills then 3 months for them to work. If I did this to customers in my line of work id be sacked!
I also wondered if anyone out there has actually been cured from SSRIs and it has never come back again. If so let me know.
But hey I just do everything that I normally would and try my best to ignore it when the sensations arise, pop pills and do exercise and VRT everyday, go to shops and busy places and let my eyes re adjust to each envioroment and one day, just one day I hope to post on here im cured. To all out there suffering keep your head up and stay positive.

Ditto for me on your post, imbalanceman! It is pretty weird & discouraging that there is such a lack of understanding & good info about this condition among the health care professionals. Judging from the number of folks registered on this board, there's ALOT of us trying to deal with this condition.

When I found info about CSD (chronic subjective dizziness), I felt both validated, but also discouraged. The gist of what I read said that it is "hypothesized" (anecdotal -no hard data) that people that don't improve after the initial onset of vertigo (from an actual physical cause like a virus) . . . have a certain emotional make-up: hypervigilant , introvert, prone to anxiety/depression etc. etc. etc.

My first reaction: I'm doomed! But then . . . the article did go on to say that these individuals (although not wanting to admit to emotional/psychological causes for the chronic dizziness) did find relief with SSRIs.

Am still trying to decide on the SSRIs. Just wish I had a better doctor connection. My old internist left the practice. I have a new physician now. Not a lot of confidence in her. She seems like a real "pill pusher". Gave me a quick 9 question assessment and said . . . you're depressed. You need Prozac. She didn't even hear my concerns about chronic dizziness.

So that's where I am right now . . . still stuck in my indecision about SSRIs & hoping for a miraculous recovery. Thanks for your post. Healing prayers for All.

Guess What. Went to VRT apt and she can not help me either. They have only been getting me to do these for the last 3 months 3 times a day. She says Chronic subjective dizziness is not likely a proper diagnosis. The exercises are not working as they do not provoke my issue, instead I get hit 30 mins or so after completing the exercises. What does me in is anything/movement to the left like walking round and round up the hospitals 4 flights of stairs. Anyway she is sending me back to the specialist. He always passes me back to the GPs so it looks like another round of me being stuck in the NHS loop of incompetence. Keep you updated with progress or lack of. Its the waiting game again to get an appt.

Love it. your absolutely right! CSD is complete bull****and does mean that out of all tests we have been through so far its yet to give an answer so they put you on SSRIs to get you out the door with a time frame of (atleast 3 months) for them to start working. This way you may get better or the problem manifests itself and you go back for a new diagnosis and start again. We need some ownership from these so called professionals and it probably wouldn't seem so bad, Hi , bye, see someone else in 3 months and let them figure it out! You can have ago at fixing me if you want I will try anything to rid my life of this rubbish.

I was on Amitriptyline for 5 years, always trying to find a level I could use. It worked in the beginning but gradually the symptoms over rode the meds, or I was a walking zombie? I weaned myself off the stuff about 6 weeks ago. And it was like waking up from being in a fog. I've decided that neuroplasticity training is the path I want to explore. I still have symptoms but they are tolerable and I'd rather retrain my brain (I think brains are amazing and anything is possible) but it's been a rough week. It's Summer in NZ, someone at church had ceiling fans installed and they triggered my vertigo badly this week. I get headaches every day, nauseated till about 11 am each morning and I stumble a lot. I will beat this one day and enjoy reading everyone elses experiences so I can learn new ways to cope. Good luck everyone

Ive kept the amitriptyline dosage very low so im not so dependant on it.
Ive see a nuerologist and he says I have functional nuerological disorder and may have actually been present along time but something kick started it off. I had something similar 12 years ago after a head injury and took a year to go then ive been fine ever since until I caught viral labrythitis . Very strange???
Anyways got no cure yet ive just had consultation and follow up in 2 weeks so he can work on a plan to put me right. Keep you updated and hang in there to all out there suffering.
ENT is a load of SXXX don't waste your time there.