Treatments

Meniere Disease Treatments

There is no cure for Ménière's Disease, but treatment may include medication, surgery, physical therapy and/or lifestyle changes.

Your physician might recommend a combination of treatments, including:

  • Medications, such as:
    • Motion sickness drugs and anti-nausea medications may help minimize dizziness and control nausea and vomiting during an episode of dizziness.
    • A diuretic may help reduce fluid retention within the ear, for a longer term solution.
  • Injections: Steroids and certain antibiotics can be injected into the inner ear to calm symptoms or even eliminate the balance function in one of the ears.
  • Surgical options including:
    • Endolymphatic sac decompression: This surgery involves removing part of the labyrinth bone and inserting a tube to drain excess fluid.
    • Vestibular nerve section: This surgery attempts to save hearing while eliminating the balance function in the affected ear by cutting the nerve.
    • Labyrinthectomy: If hearing is already severely impacted, your surgeon can remove the labyrinth entirely to reduce dizziness.
  • Physical therapy: Therapists with additional training in vestibular rehabilitation can teach you exercises to improve your balance.
  • Meniett pulse generator: This device applies pulses of pressure to the ear canal to avoid fluid build-up.
  • Reduce sodium: Less sodium in the diet will help you stop retaining fluids, even in your inner ear.

Specialists also recommend identifying and managing stressors to help minimize your symptoms. 

Related Resources

Dizziness and Balance Program