Latest news with #dizziness
Medscape
26-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Rizatriptan Disappoints for Acute Vestibular Migraine
Rizatriptan at 10 mg showed no significant benefit over placebo in alleviating vertigo or unsteadiness/dizziness at 1 hour in adults with vestibular migraine in a new trial. The drug showed limited benefits for unsteadiness/dizziness and motion sensitivity at 24 hours with medium effect sizes. METHODOLOGY: This double-blind randomized clinical trial conducted from 2014 to 2020 at two tertiary neurotologic centers included 222 adults with vestibular migraine (mean age, 42.3 years; 71% women). After a prospective observation phase to confirm diagnosis, participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive 10 mg rizatriptan or placebo to treat up to three vestibular migraine attacks per participant with a single oral dose. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of treated attacks with vertigo and unsteadiness/dizziness alleviated from moderate or severe to absent or mild at 1 hour. Secondary outcomes included the complete resolution of vestibular symptoms and alleviation of headache and associated symptoms at 1 hour, use of rescue medications after 1 hour, alleviation of symptoms at 24 hours, treatment satisfaction and adverse effects at 48 hours. TAKEAWAY: The analysis of 240 attacks with moderate or severe vestibular symptoms showed that rizatriptan did not outperform placebo for vertigo (odds ratio [OR], 0.69; 95% CI, 0.33-1.46) or unsteadiness/dizziness (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 0.75-4.62) at 1 hour. The use of rescue medication was identical at 26.4% between groups, with rizatriptan showing medium effects over placebo for unsteadiness/dizziness (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.04-6.79), photophobia or phonophobia (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.00-7.77), and motion sensitivity (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.44-8.88) at 24 hours. Treatment satisfaction and quality-of-life outcomes at 48 hours showed mixed results. Adverse events were not significantly different between groups. No serious adverse events were reported. IN PRACTICE: 'Results of this study do not support routine use of rizatriptan to treat vestibular migraine attacks. It was not efficacious for any symptoms at 1 hour and demonstrated no effects on vertigo,' the investigators wrote. SOURCE: The study was led by Jeffrey P. Staab, MD, MS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. It was published online on May 12 in JAMA Neurology . LIMITATIONS: The findings were not generalizable to community or primary care settings. The cohort represented a small subset of referred patients who met strict diagnostic criteria, excluding those with probable vestibular migraine. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. One investigator reported receiving royalties for co-authoring a chapter on vestibular migraine for UpToDate. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication. Credit Lead image: Noipornpan/Dreamstime Medscape Medical News © 2025 WebMD, LLC Cite this: Rizatriptan Disappoints for Acute Vestibular Migraine - Medscape - May 26, 2025.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors dismissed my dizzy spells... in fact they were the first sign of a terrifying tumour
A super-fit mother-of-one has revealed her anguish after doctors dismissed her dizzy spells as a common ear infection—when in fact they were caused by a brain tumour. Retired pro-swimmer Cate Jackson, 60, initially sought help for headaches, balance problems and fatigue, and was diagnosed with labyrinthitis. The condition—which affects the inner ear, and impacts both hearing and balance—typically gets better without treatment, after a matter of days or weeks. A former Commonwealth athlete Mrs Jackson, who competed for Great Britain from 1981 to 1985, was initially prescribed antibiotics. Yet Mrs Jackson, who currently races for Barnet Copthall Masters, failed to respond to the medication—and her problems worsened. The true cause of her symptoms was finally revealed in March 2023 when scans revealed a meningioma—a tumour that grows in the membrane around the brain. Her daughter, Isobel, 26, a mental health support-worker from Welwyn, Hertfordshire, said: 'Mum became drained of energy and said how it felt like she needed someone to drill into the side of her head to alleviate the pressure. 'I studied the brain during my psychology degree at university and thought something more sinister could be to blame. Cate Jackson and her daughter Isobel (left) and the MRI scan which revealed the tumour (right) 'Despite mum not wanting to make a fuss, I encouraged her to go back to the GP and my fears were realised.' After undergoing an MRI scan, Mrs Jackson was handed her diagnosis. She had an operation to remove the lump before undergoing radiotherapy and continues to be monitored with regular scans. What is a meningioma and how is it treated? A meningioma is a type of tumor which starts in the layer of tissue (membranes) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called meninges. The symptoms can not be obvious as meningiomas usually grow slowly, but as it grows it can press on areas near the brain. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, problems with balance, weakness in an arm or leg, changes in your eyesight. It can also cause changes in speech or swallowing, changes in personality, being confused, seizures (fits) and sickness (vomiting). If a meningioma is growing or causing symptoms the main treatment options are surgery and radiotherapy. Isobel said: 'Mum has some trouble with her cognitive processing but is living life as normal. 'Mum's brain tumour could be treated but I know for some people this isn't the case. 'Brain Tumour Research is a cause I want to support so that more potential life-saving research can be carried out to keep families together.' Isobel completed a run across the Jurassic coast on May 17, 2025 raising over £1,000 for the charity, which is determined to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. She said: 'It was fantastic but very different to running in the streets. 'I had planned to do the 100km distance but had to withdraw before as I lost body heat and couldn't warm up and would've been too dangerous to continue. 'I'm so proud of myself for how far I ran especially with the steep hills and drop.' Charlie Allsebrook, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: 'We're incredibly grateful to Isobel for sharing her mum's story and for taking on such a strenuous trekking challenge. 'Cate's story is a stark reminder that brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age and around 12,000 people are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour each year. 'We're grateful to Isobel for helping us shine a light on this devastating disease and supporting the brain tumour community.' About a quarter of the almost 13,000 brain tumours diagnosed in the UK each year are meningiomas, according to data from Cancer Research UK.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Speaker Packard gets out of local hospital after dizzy spell
House Speaker Sherman Packard, 76, was discharged from Concord Hospital Wednesday after he had spent the previous night for observation after he experienced a dizzy spell the previous morning across the street from the State House. The Londonderry Republican is serving in his 35th straight year representing Londonderry in the House of Representatives. 'Speaker Packard was experiencing unexplained dizziness yesterday at the Legislative Office Building and was taken to the hospital for observation out of an abundance of caution,' Packard's office said. 'He is doing very well, is in good spirits and would like to thank everyone who expressed concern and sent their well-wishes.' Before heading home for rest, officials said Packard addressed his staff, offered some advice and thanked them as well. 'He's the hardest working speaker I've ever seen here,' said Terry Pfaff, the Legislature's chief operating officer, a former House member and retired firefighter. 'He's always here and he never stops. 'I know he wasn't pleased being taken away in an ambulance, but like everyone in that experience, he looked and sounded so much better after a good night's rest.' The House of Representatives has a regular session Thursday, starting at 10 a.m. Packard has often relied upon Deputy Speaker Steve Smith, R-Charlestown, to preside over the House while he had appointments or, on occasion, to give him a break. Rep. Jim Kofalt, R-Wilton who Packard named as a special adviser earlier this year, has also wielded the gavel a bit during the 2025 session. klandrigan@
