Meniere's disease
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What will happen to me?
It's hard to say exactly what will happen. The symptoms of Meniere's disease usually come and go.

This makes it hard to say if a treatment works. People often get better without any treatment.1 2

In the beginning you may get attacks about six to 11 times each year, but some people go many months without an attack.3 After several years the vertigo (dizziness) often gets better, but it's likely that you will lose some of your hearing or get tinnitus (ringing in the ears).4 5

Eventually the vertigo attacks will probably go away.5 About three-quarters of people with Meniere's find that their vertigo and tinnitus get better no matter what kind of treatment they have.6

Your life may be affected by having Meniere's disease. For example, you may have difficulty traveling or doing certain kinds of work. Your doctor can give you advice about making your home or workplace safer, or when to avoid driving. If you have Meniere's disease, you cannot hold a commercial driver's license in the United States.



Sources for the information on this page:
  1. Schmidt JT, Huizing EH. The clinical drug trial in Menière's disease with emphasis on the effect of betahistine SR. Acta Oto-laryngologica. 1992; 497 (supplement): 1-189.
  2. Moser M, Ranacher G, Wilmot TJ, et al. A double-blind clinical trial of hydroxyethylrutosides in Meniere's disease. Journal of Laryngology and Otology. 1984; 98: 265-272.
  3. Kitahara M. Concepts and diagnostic criteria of Meniere's disease. In: Kitahara M (editor). Meniere's disease. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo, Japan; 1990.
  4. Friberg U, Stahle J, Svedberg A. The natural course of Meniere's disease. Acta Oto-Laryngologica. 1984; 406 (supplement 1): S72-S77.
  5. Silverstein H, Smouha E, Jones R. Natural history versus surgery for Menière's disease. Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. 1989; 100: 6-16.
  6. Torok N. Old and new in Meniere's disease. Laryngoscope. 1977; 87: 1870-1877.
This information was last updated in Nov 30, 2007