Oral Piracetam in Patients with Chronic Vertigo

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of oral piracetam in patients with chronic vertigo. 97 patients, who had suffered from vertigo at least 3 months and had experienced vertigo at least 3 episodes per month, were included in this study. 72 patients were given 3x800 mg oral piracetam for 8 weeks and 25 patients were given 3x1 placebo for 8 weeks. Frequency of episodes, severity of vertigo, severity of nausea and vomiting, severity of malaise, severity of imbalance, changes in daily capacity, effects of vertigo on walking were determined by VAS (visual analogue scale) in groups which were given oral piracetam and placebo. Before the treatment and during the 4th, 6th and 8th weeks of the treatment and after a month (the patients stopped using the drug), all of the parameters were questioned again. We found that piracetam provides significant relief in symptoms, especially at the end of 8th week-treatment period. Symptoms had slightly increased after the drug was given up but never back to the levels before the treatment. There was no significant change in the placebo group.

Keywords

• vertigo
• piracetam
• medical treatment.