Last updated: October 2026
Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room around you is spinning. The commonest cause is BPPV, which often settles by itself and can usually be fixed with a simple head-movement manoeuvre (the Epley) done by a GP or physio. Inner ear infections, Ménière’s disease and vestibular migraine are other causes. Call 999 if vertigo comes with stroke signs.
Below: vertigo vs dizziness, causes and triggers, home exercises, medicines, how long it lasts, whether it can be cured, and when it’s an emergency.
Call 999 or go to A&E if vertigo comes on suddenly with double vision or loss of vision, hearing loss, trouble speaking or slurred speech, a drooping face, or weakness, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg. These can be signs of a stroke. Don’t drive yourself.
Vertigo vs dizziness vs light-headedness
The NHS describes vertigo as the feeling that you, or everything around you, is spinning enough to affect your balance. It’s more than just feeling dizzy. Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition in itself, so the useful question is always: what’s causing it?
“Dizzy” covers several different feelings, and telling them apart helps a GP find the cause.
| Feeling | What it’s like | Common causes |
|---|---|---|
| Vertigo | Spinning, tilting or swaying, as if you or the room is moving. Often with nausea. | Inner ear problems (BPPV, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s), vestibular migraine; rarely stroke |
| Light-headedness | Feeling faint, woozy or about to pass out, often when you stand up | Low blood pressure, dehydration, skipped meals, heat, some medicines |
| Unsteadiness | Off-balance on your feet, without a spinning feeling | Recovery after an inner ear infection, some medicines, nerve or joint problems |
| Anxious dizziness | Woozy, unreal or floaty, often with a racing heart or fast breathing | Anxiety and panic, overbreathing. See anxiety dizziness |
One more thing: “vertigo” is often used to mean a fear of heights. NHS inform points out that the medical term for that is acrophobia, and it isn’t the same thing.
Vertigo symptoms
Vertigo can be barely noticeable or strong enough that you can’t stand up. Along with the spinning, you may have:
- loss of balance, making it hard to stand or walk
- feeling sick or being sick
- general dizziness or a heavy, swimmy head
- with BPPV, a feeling of falling through the bed as you lie down, or being thrown back as you sit up
Other symptoms point to the cause. Ringing in the ear (tinnitus), hearing loss or a full feeling in one ear suggest an inner ear problem such as labyrinthitis or Ménière’s. A high temperature suggests infection. Sensitivity to light and sound, or a migraine history, suggests vestibular migraine. A sudden severe headache, double vision, slurred speech or weakness are emergency signs (see below).
What causes vertigo?
Inner ear problems are the most common cause, because the inner ear holds your balance organ. Sometimes no cause is found. These are the main ones:
| Cause | Typical pattern | How long | Clue |
|---|---|---|---|
| BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) | Short, intense spins set off by moving your head | Each spin usually 5 to 30 seconds; a bout often lasts a couple of weeks | Rolling over in bed, lying down, looking up |
| Vestibular neuritis | Sudden, constant vertigo with nausea and unsteadiness | Worst for a few days; balance usually returns over 2 to 6 weeks | Often follows a cold or flu; no hearing loss |
| Labyrinthitis | As vestibular neuritis, plus ear symptoms | As above | Hearing loss or tinnitus in one ear |
| Ménière’s disease | Attacks of vertigo that come and go | A few minutes to 24 hours per attack | Tinnitus, hearing loss and pressure in one ear |
| Vestibular migraine | Repeated vertigo or dizziness, with or without headache | Usually minutes to hours, up to 72 hours | Migraine history, light or sound sensitivity |
| Medicines | Dizziness or vertigo as a side effect | Varies | Started after a new medicine; check the leaflet |
| Stroke or other brain causes (less common) | Sudden vertigo with other neurological signs | Emergency | Face, arm or speech problems, double vision, can’t walk: call 999 |
BPPV is the single commonest cause. In a German population study of almost 4,900 adults, about 2.4% had had BPPV at some point in their life, and it accounted for 8% of people with moderate or severe dizziness. Ménière’s and Vestibular UK explains that it happens when tiny chalk crystals in the inner ear come loose and drift into one of the balance canals, so certain head positions send false “you’re spinning” signals to the brain. It becomes more common with age, and the German study also found it was linked with migraine.
NHS inform also lists persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), a longer-lasting form of dizziness, and, less often, conditions affecting the brain such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or brain tumours.
What triggers a vertigo attack?
What sets off an episode depends on the cause:
- Head position (BPPV). Rolling over in bed, lying flat or sitting up, looking up at a high shelf, or bending down, especially while looking to the side. This is why BPPV often shows up first thing in the morning or when you turn over in the night.
- A virus. Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis usually follow a cold or flu.
- Migraine triggers (vestibular migraine). Ménière’s and Vestibular UK lists stress and anxiety, too little or too much sleep, hunger and dehydration, dietary triggers such as caffeine, and hormonal changes around periods and the menopause. See migraine triggers.
- Ménière’s. Attacks are unpredictable. The NHS suggests plenty of fluids, no alcohol or smoking, avoiding caffeine (see caffeine withdrawal if you’re cutting down), and asking a GP about a low-salt diet. Our tinnitus at night guide covers the ringing that often comes with it.
- Alcohol and dehydration. The NHS says alcohol can make labyrinthitis symptoms worse, and dehydration is a common vestibular migraine trigger. See how much water to drink.
- Stress and anxiety. They don’t usually cause true spinning on their own, but the NHS notes anxiety can make vertigo worse. See stress symptoms.
If attacks keep coming back, a simple diary (when, what you were doing, how long, any ear or headache symptoms) is very useful to take to a GP.
What helps vertigo at home
Most people get better without treatment. While it settles, the NHS and NHS inform suggest:
- Lie still in a quiet, dark room during an attack.
- Sit down straight away if you feel dizzy.
- Get up slowly: sit on the edge of the bed for a minute before you stand.
- Sleep with your head raised on two or more pillows.
- Turn the lights on if you get up in the night, and use a walking stick if you’re at risk of falling.
- Squat rather than bend to pick things up, and avoid stretching your neck up to high shelves.
- Sip water little and often if you’re being sick.
- Try to relax, as anxiety can make vertigo worse.
Once the worst has passed, don’t stay still for too long. NHS inform says avoiding movement slows recovery, and gentle movement as soon as you can helps your balance system reset. For labyrinthitis, the NHS suggests short walks early on, ideally with someone nearby.
Vertigo exercises at home
There are three main types of exercise, and they suit different causes. The first two are for BPPV only, so it’s worth getting the diagnosis confirmed first: a GP can do a quick test (moving you from sitting to lying with your head turned) that shows whether you have BPPV and which ear is affected.
The Epley manoeuvre (BPPV)
The Epley is a sequence of head and body positions, done lying back on a couch or bed, that rolls the loose crystals out of the balance canal and back to where they belong. A Cochrane review of 11 trials found vertigo cleared completely in 56% of people after the Epley, compared with 21% after a dummy manoeuvre, and a single Epley worked better than a week of Brandt-Daroff exercises. Feeling sick during the manoeuvre was common (16.7% to 32%), but no serious side effects were reported.
It’s best done, or taught, by a GP, physiotherapist or audiologist the first time, because it has to be done on the correct side and in the right order. Some NHS trusts then give you a home version for future bouts. Check with a doctor first if you have neck or back problems.
Brandt-Daroff exercises (BPPV)
These are simpler and easier to do on your own, which is why clinics often give them as a follow-up. A typical NHS trust leaflet describes them like this:
- Sit upright on the edge of the bed.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the left, or as far as is comfortable.
- Lie down on your right side and stay there for 30 seconds, or until the dizziness settles.
- Sit up and turn your head back to the centre.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the right and lie down on your left side for 30 seconds.
- Sit back up with your head centred.
That’s one round. The leaflet suggests 5 rounds, 3 times a day, for about two weeks. Expect them to bring on some dizziness, so have someone nearby the first few times and sit for a while before standing up.
Vestibular rehabilitation (most other causes)
If balance problems linger after labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, or with Ménière’s or vestibular migraine, vestibular rehabilitation is the main treatment. It’s a programme of eye, head and balance exercises that trains your brain to cope with the faulty signals. A Cochrane review of 39 trials found it reduced dizziness compared with no treatment. The NHS says it should be supervised by a physiotherapist or audiologist; you can be referred by a GP, and in many areas you can self-refer to NHS physiotherapy.
Medicines for vertigo
Medicines can ease the spinning and sickness for a few days, but they don’t fix the underlying cause. These are the ones you’re most likely to hear about in the UK:
| Medicine | What it’s for | How you get it |
|---|---|---|
| Prochlorperazine (Stemetil, Buccastem) | An anti-sickness medicine used for nausea and vomiting with vertigo, Ménière’s disease and migraine | Prescription. Pharmacies can only sell it to adults with a previous migraine diagnosis, for migraine sickness |
| Cinnarizine (Stugeron) | An antihistamine used for vertigo, nausea, travel sickness and Ménière’s | Pharmacy or prescription |
| Betahistine | Ménière’s disease only, to ease attacks and reduce how often they happen | Prescription only |
| Antibiotics | Only if a bacterial infection is suspected; most inner ear infections are viral | Prescription |
A few things to know:
- Short-term only. NHS inform says anti-sickness medicines and antihistamines for vertigo should usually be used for only 3 to 5 days, because longer use may slow your recovery.
- They can make you drowsy. Don’t drive, cycle or use machinery until you know how they affect you, and avoid alcohol.
- They aren’t for everyone. Cinnarizine and prochlorperazine aren’t suitable with some conditions (for example glaucoma, epilepsy or prostate problems), and betahistine may not suit people with asthma or a stomach ulcer. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, check with a GP or pharmacist first.
- They don’t help BPPV itself. Ménière’s and Vestibular UK points out that BPPV is a mechanical problem, so the repositioning manoeuvres are the treatment, not tablets.
- Ask a pharmacist or GP which is right for you, especially if you take other medicines, and follow the dose on the label or prescription.
How long does vertigo last?
An attack can last a few seconds or several hours, and severe vertigo can carry on for days. It depends on the cause:
| Cause | Each attack | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| BPPV | Usually 5 to 30 seconds, occasionally up to 2 minutes | A bout often lasts about 2 weeks (the median in one large study); at least half settle without treatment, though some take months; may come back |
| Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis | Constant at first | Worst for a few days; balance usually back in 2 to 6 weeks; sometimes longer |
| Ménière’s disease | A few minutes to 24 hours | Attacks come and go over years |
| Vestibular migraine | Usually minutes to hours (5 minutes to 72 hours) | Comes and goes, like migraine |
NHS inform says that if vertigo or balance problems carry on after 6 weeks, you may be referred to a balance physiotherapist or an ENT specialist. See a GP sooner if it isn’t improving after a few days, is getting worse, or keeps coming back.
Can vertigo be cured?
Often, yes, but it depends on the cause:
- BPPV is very treatable. At least half of cases settle on their own, and in trials the Epley cleared vertigo completely in 56% of people. It does tend to come back, though: the Cochrane review found a 36% recurrence rate, so knowing the exercises is useful.
- Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis usually get better by themselves within weeks. A minority have balance problems for months, which vestibular rehabilitation is designed for.
- Ménière’s disease can’t be cured, the NHS says, but treatment, hearing aids, tinnitus therapies and balance rehabilitation can help manage the symptoms.
- Vestibular migraine has no cure, but attacks can be made less frequent by finding and avoiding triggers, and with treatment from a GP or specialist.
Vestibular migraine (migrainous vertigo)
Vestibular migraine is a type of migraine that affects the balance system. It’s the most common cause of repeated spinning attacks that aren’t brought on by head position, and it’s under-recognised: in a German population study, about 1% of adults had had it, but only 1 in 5 of those who saw a doctor got the diagnosis.
The surprising part is that you don’t need a headache. Ménière’s and Vestibular UK says most attacks happen without one. Instead there may be vertigo, unsteadiness, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, visual disturbance and tiredness. The international diagnostic criteria describe attacks lasting from 5 minutes to 72 hours in someone with a history of migraine. It’s about three times more common in women.
Management starts with a symptom diary and the same steady habits that help migraine in general: regular meals and fluids, a consistent sleep routine (see sleep hygiene), less caffeine, and managing stress. See our migraine guide for triggers and treatment, and headache behind the eyes if pain sits around your eyes. Research on magnesium and migraine is covered in magnesium for migraines.
If magnesium is part of your evening routine, our Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex provides magnesium, which contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and to a reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Our products aren’t a treatment for vertigo or migraine. They’re for adults only, we don’t recommend our products during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take any medication.
Vertigo and anxiety
The two feed each other. Anxiety can make vertigo feel worse, and spinning attacks are frightening, so many people start avoiding head movements or going out. That caution can slow recovery, because your balance system needs movement to readjust.
Dizziness from anxiety is often more light-headed, floaty or unreal than true spinning, often with a racing heart or fast breathing. Our guide to anxiety dizziness explains how to tell the difference, and heart palpitations covers the pounding-heart side. If worry about attacks is limiting your life, mention it to your GP: vestibular rehabilitation and talking therapies can both help.
Vertigo and driving
Don’t drive while you feel dizzy or when you sense an attack starting. GOV.UK says you must tell the DVLA if you have dizziness that is sudden, disabling or recurrent. Car and motorcycle drivers can report it online or on form DIZ1; bus, coach and lorry drivers use form DIZ1V. You can be fined up to £1,000 for not reporting a medical condition that affects your driving, and you may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident because of it.
NHS inform also suggests telling your employer if your job involves machinery or ladders.
When vertigo is an emergency
Most vertigo comes from the inner ear and isn’t dangerous, but sudden vertigo can occasionally be a stroke. Use FAST: Face drooping, Arms (can’t lift both and keep them up), Speech slurred or muddled, Time to call 999.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you have vertigo and:
- double vision or loss of vision
- trouble speaking or slurred speech
- weakness, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg, or a drooping face
- hearing loss
- you feel very off-balance, or someone can’t be woken
Get an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you have vertigo and:
- a severe headache
- you’re being sick or feel very sick
- a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery
Even without vertigo, sudden hearing loss in one or both ears needs an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 the same day, as it may need treating quickly.
See a GP if:
- vertigo won’t go away, keeps coming back, or affects your daily life
- it isn’t improving after a few days or is getting worse
- you think a medicine may be causing it
Don’t drive yourself to A&E, and take a list of any medicines you take.
FAQs
What triggers vertigo?
It depends on the cause. BPPV is triggered by head movements such as rolling over in bed, lying down or looking up. Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis usually follow a cold or flu. Vestibular migraine attacks can be set off by stress, poor sleep, missed meals, dehydration, caffeine and hormonal changes.
Can vertigo be cured?
Often. BPPV can usually be fixed with the Epley manoeuvre, though it comes back in about a third of people. Inner ear infections usually clear within weeks. Ménière’s disease and vestibular migraine can’t be cured, but treatment and avoiding triggers can control the symptoms.
What exercises help vertigo at home?
For BPPV, the Epley manoeuvre and Brandt-Daroff exercises, ideally after a GP or physio has confirmed the diagnosis and the affected side. For lingering balance problems after an inner ear infection, vestibular rehabilitation exercises from a physiotherapist or audiologist.
How long does vertigo last?
Each BPPV spin usually lasts 5 to 30 seconds, and a bout often settles in a couple of weeks. Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are worst for a few days, with balance usually back in 2 to 6 weeks. Ménière’s attacks last minutes to 24 hours; vestibular migraine attacks last minutes to hours.
What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness where you or the room seems to spin or move. Dizziness is a broader word that also covers feeling light-headed, faint or unsteady, which usually has different causes such as low blood pressure or dehydration.
What can I take for vertigo in the UK?
A pharmacist can sell cinnarizine (Stugeron) for vertigo and sickness. A GP may prescribe prochlorperazine (Stemetil) or, for Ménière’s, betahistine. These are usually short-term only and can cause drowsiness, so ask a pharmacist or GP which suits you.
When is vertigo an emergency?
Call 999 if vertigo comes with double vision or loss of vision, slurred speech, a drooping face, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, or you can’t walk. Vertigo with hearing loss is also on the NHS 999 list. These can be signs of a stroke. Sudden hearing loss on its own needs an urgent same-day GP appointment or NHS 111.
Sources
- NHS. Vertigo.
- NHS inform. Vertigo.
- NHS. Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis.
- NHS. Ménière’s disease.
- NHS. Stroke symptoms and Hearing loss.
- NHS medicines: Prochlorperazine, Cinnarizine, Betahistine.
- GOV.UK. Dizziness and driving.
- Ménière’s and Vestibular UK. BPPV and Vestibular migraine.
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Brandt-Daroff exercises.
- Hilton MP, Pinder DK (2014). The Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- McDonnell MN, Hillier SL (2015). Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
- von Brevern M et al (2007). Epidemiology of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: a population based study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
- Neuhauser HK et al (2006). Migrainous vertigo: prevalence and impact on quality of life. Neurology.
- Lempert T et al (2012). Vestibular migraine: diagnostic criteria. Journal of Vestibular Research.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Our products aren’t a treatment for vertigo. Evopure makes the Magnesium Glycinate Sleep Complex.
