What should you know about over the counter for dizziness?

Dizziness may mean lightheadedness, a feeling of faintness, or a spinning sensation. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, low blood sugar, anaemia, anxiety, and inner-ear conditions can feel different and need different responses. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo often causes brief spinning with particular head movements, while an irregular heartbeat can cause lightheadedness or faintness.

Some motion-sickness or vertigo medicines may reduce nausea or spinning, but they can cause drowsiness and may hide symptoms that need assessment. Do not drive, climb, or operate machinery while affected or after taking a sedating medicine.

Sit or lie down when dizziness starts, rise slowly, and drink fluids if you may be dehydrated and have not been told to restrict them. Eat a small snack if you may have missed food, unless you have a reason to avoid it. Keep a record of triggers, duration, hearing changes, palpitations, medicines, and whether head movement brings it on.

A pharmacist can check whether a non-prescription medicine is safe with your current treatment. Repeated episodes deserve a clinical assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Call emergency services for sudden dizziness with weakness or numbness on one side, facial drooping, trouble speaking, severe headache, chest pain, fainting, severe breathlessness, or inability to walk. Seek prompt care for ongoing vomiting, new hearing loss, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or dizziness after a head injury.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest an inner-ear problem, anaemia, blood sugar change, dehydration, or a heart rhythm issue, and whether any medicine could be contributing.