Can medications cause vertigo?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 50-year-old male, weighing 240 pounds. Two weeks ago, I experienced dizziness following a severe vertigo attack that caused me to fall. My psychiatrist sent me for an EKG, and when I visited a cardiologist to review the results, he said the EKG was abnormal. My psychiatrist wants me to follow up with my family doctor as soon as possible, but my family doctor is unavailable for another week. What should I do? Should I wait for a week? I am currently taking Valproate and Risperidone.

Please suggest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Have you informed your psychiatrist about the vertigo? Vertigo could be caused by some of the medications you are taking, such as Valproate and Risperidone. The dizziness you are experiencing may be due to the side effects of these medications. If you are only experiencing dizziness without other symptoms, it may be safe to wait a week to see your family physician. I would also like you to attach the EKG (electrocardiogram) results, if available, or let me know what changes the doctor mentioned.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have reviewed your ECG (attachments removed to protect the patient’s identity). There is slight T-wave depression in lead III, which could be caused by ischemia (reduced blood supply to the tissues), leading to low oxygen levels. However, it could also be a false reading due to improper lead placement during the test. If you are not experiencing ischemic symptoms, such as palpitations, lightheadedness, vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc., there is likely no immediate concern. I recommend repeating the ECG to confirm the findings, as a single ECG test cannot definitively diagnose ischemia. Ischemia is typically assessed through a combination of tests, such as a cardiac stress test, echocardiogram, and others.

Thanks and regards.