medications that can cause balance issues
So, what’s so important about the myelin? WebMD explains that it usually originates from a shingles virus that affects the facial nerve. Patty Weasler, RN. “When we’re not getting feeling from our feet, we’re not getting feedback from those nerves to our brain — and that’s one-third of our balance right there,” says Bywater to Prevention. All rights reserved. If you’ve ever suffered a nasty migraine, you know how the agonizing pain can cause motion sickness, vision issues, and even disruptions in balance as the sufferer becomes extremely sensitive to light and sound. alternative medications such as Ginkgo biloba, melatonin, St. John’s wort, and medical marijuana Combining drugs or drinking alcohol along with any of these medications may … You may require rehabilitation to learn to move muscles, to compensate for a lack of balance, and to learn how to prevent falls. These feelings can happen whether you're lying down, sitting or standing.Many body systems — including your muscles, bones, joints, vision, the balance organ in the inner ear, nerves, heart and blood vessels — must work normally for you to have normal balance. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It could be due to a slew of other problems, like any of the others listed above. “If people are drowsy from medications then it affects their reaction time. So they won’t be able to balance as well in the case of sudden disturbances,” says Kim Bywater, MS, a licensed occupational therapist and Balance Center coordinator at Mohawk Valley Health System in Utica, NY when talking to Prevention. Instability typically results from a combination of loss of sensation, or nerve damage, and inadequate blood flow to the bottoms of the feet. Balance issues can start suddenly and there can be many possible causes. Sadly there is no cure for MS at the moment, but thankfully there is a lot of awareness around this condition, mainly because it affects so many people, and of course ongoing research happening every day which brings us that much closer to a solution. You can…, Cold sores are red, fluid-filled blisters that usually form near your mouth or other areas of your face. Other symptoms can include blurred vision, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, and anxiety. Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the entire nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Further potential tests to identify causes include: An MRI or CT scan can check your brain and spinal cord. Jamie Bogle, PhD, senior associate consultant at Mayo Clinic Arizona told Prevention that an acoustic neuroma is the perfect example of how a brain tumor can affect balance. Balance problems are frequently associated with the normal aging process, and many seniors begin to compensate for their lack of balance without trying to identify the cause. They are one cause of You may also have blurred vision, confusion, and disorientation. These include some blood pressure medications, antibiotics, tranquilizers, heart medications, and anti-seizure According to balance disorder specialists at Portland’s Oregon Health & Science University, this is why a simple ear infection can cause vertigo, an unsteady sensation from any condition affecting the inner ear and overall balance (i.e., a tumor). Vestibular suppressants are medications designed specifically to treat motion sickness and/or eye movements caused by vestibular imbalance. A physical and neurological examination can diagnose gait or balance problems. Your doctor will also ask questions about your symptoms and their severities. Health Check Certified By: The result is light-headedness, impaired spatial awareness, dizziness and even fainting if sufferers sit or stand up too quickly. Definitely don’t go self diagnosing yourself with a brain tumor, especially since there are many other explanations for a lack of balance. Although all medications can cause side-effects, quite a few commonly used drugs are known to make thinking and balance worse in aging adults. You might experience a spinning sensation when turning in bed or tilting your head back to look up. However, the eyes themselves can also be the gateway to dizziness and loss of equilibrium if vision becomes impaired in some way. The most common inner ear problem that affects balance is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) which according to the Mayo Clinic, occurs when “calcium crystals in your inner ear — which help control your balance — are dislodged from their normal positions and move elsewhere in the inner ear.” This source notes that this is the most common cause of vertigo in adults. Parkinson’s disease has a huge impact on balance and coordination because it affects the “substantia nigra” which is the part of the brain that produces dopamine, which is what allows us to perform smooth and coordinated muscle movements. Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear, or the labyrinth. While this one is much more unlikely than some of the other health conditions on this list, it does happen. A nerve conduction study and electromyogram can be used to evaluate for muscle problems and peripheral neuropathy. They rely on proper functioning from several areas of the body, including the: Problems with any of these areas can lead to walking difficulties, falls, or injury if not addressed. Problems with gait, balance, and coordination are often caused by specific conditions, including: Other causes include limited range of motion and fatigue. The acoustic neuroma is only one of many other tumors that can grow in different areas of the brain and also have an impact on balance and coordination. Some drugs that may interact with statins and increase your risk of side effects include: Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), a medication for irregular heart rhythms Gemfibrozil (Lopid), another variety of cholesterol drug HIV treatments called protease inhibitors such as saquinavir (Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir) Katherine is the Senior Managing Editor of ActiveBeat and Childhood. 9 Depending on what kind of balance disorder you have, certain medication may also be prescribed to alleviate symptoms as follows: 10 Foot and leg numbness can make it difficult to know where your feet are moving or whether they’re touching the floor. Here are some commonly prescribed medications known to cause tinnitus and some options and alternative medications to consider. For instance, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or other ataxia-related disorders (atrophy of the brain’s cerebellum cells) often experience a decline in muscle control in the legs and arms, resulting in loss of balance, disturbed gait, and decreasing posture, coordination, and equilibrium. Labyrinthitis may cause dizziness, nausea, and a loss of balance. Your doctor will look to find which part of the nervous system is contributing to your gait and balance problems. However, this same effect happens in other areas of the body, including the mouth and tongue. Whether you…. Gait, the process of walking and balance, are intricate movements. BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo in adults. This acute condition lowers the blood pressure in the arteries which then robs the brain of oxygen-rich blood. Catching this disease early is the best way to manage any symptoms. Medications which may affect balance include OTC sleeping aids as well as prescription sleeping pills, pain medications which are commonly used for chronic back or arthritic problems, blood pressure medications including vasodilators and diuretics (often taken by people with diabetes), antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, anti-viral medications, and anti-histamines taken for … The vestibular system is the medical term for the parts of the inner ear involved with the control of balance, and disorders that affect this part of the body can cause different signs and symptoms. What’s the Purpose of Pubic Hair? We’ve all heard those commercials that advertise medication and then recite off a long, never ending list of side effects that sometimes seem worse than the condition itself! Even though balance erodes quite naturally and gradually with age, there are several health conditions that can set your equilibrium off kilter as they affect another bodily system that helps maintain proper stability. “In PD, the cells of the substantia nigra start to die. Be sure to see your doctor to get a thorough examination to identify why you’re having gait and balance difficulties. Type 2 Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Is There a Connection? Balance problems due to high blood pressure can be managed by eating less salt (sodium), maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising. Such drugs can cause hearing loss, hyperacusis, tinnitus, and other phantom sounds and a whole host of balance problems.” Although physician-prescribed medications may effectively treat a specific health condition, they can also damage the fragile hair cells in the inner ear, impacting a person’s ability to hear and balance ( source ). Here's how to do it. You might feel that you're going to fall down. Here’s an evidence-based look at some common drugs that can cause cognitive impairment. The brain is one of the most important organs when it comes to body function and that’s because it’s linked to our central nervous system. Dizziness usually occurs when the body’s visual information system is unable to properly process exterior stimuli via the brain, needed to maintain proper balance. Any medication can cause side effects, and high blood pressure (HBP) medications are no exception. Some of these medicines include sedatives, anti-depressants, anti-epileptic drugs and some medicines taken to lower blood pressure. Here's what you can do to lower your risk and help…, Researchers don’t fully understand all of the reasons why we have hair down there — but they do know that pubic hair serves a purpose. Findings published in the Journal of Vestibular Research pointed to migraine-associated vertigo, a condition that, like traditional migraines, causes spasms, relaxed blood vessels, and alters blood flow in the brain. Addison's Disease: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment, Don't Sweat These 6 Facts About Hyperhidrosis, Calcific Tendonitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments, Polydipsia: 6 Medical Causes of Excessive Thirst, Dyspnea: Common Causes of Shortness of Breath, 6 Health Symptoms of Sleep Deprivation That Aren't Sleepiness, Health Conditions Associated with Cleft Lip or Palate, Diabetes: How to Prepare for Winter Sports, Holiday Survival Tips for Type 1 Diabetes, New Year's Resolutions for People with Diabetes, Tips on How to Raise a Child with Type 1 Diabetes, Facts on Hemophilia and Inherited Bleeding Disorders, How to Navigate the Holidays with Type 1 Diabetes, Señales Tempranas de la Enfermedad de Parkinson. On top of all this, it also has a big impact on balance and can cause vertigo or tinnitus. The song was rather correct, “the ear bone is connected to the eye bone” and on and on, which is why the vestibular system, a maze-like bony structure in the ear impacts your vision and works to maintain proper balance. Potential causes of temporary gait or balance complications include: Longer-term difficulties often result from muscular neurological issues. When they have dropped 60 to 80 percent, symptoms of PD start to appear,” writes Healthline. Its cause is unknown. While most medications are prescribed to help and heal us, many drugs carry side effects that can negatively impact our balance. Meniere’s disease changes the volume of fluid in your ear, causing balance problems, hearing loss, and ringing in your ears. In particular, any damage to the cerebellum, an important part of the brain, could affect a person’s balance and lead to a lack of stability or limb control. Your diet, along with medications you might take, may be aggravating urinary incontinence symptoms. © 2005-2021 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. It grows on the main nerve connecting the ears to the brain, so it has a huge impact on balance signals in the inner ear. Medications: A number of commonly used medications can cause dizziness, lightheadedness and decreased balance. HSV-1 is known as oral herpes, and HSV-2 is…. Optometrists say that yearly eye exams are vital to identify and prevent conditions like glaucoma and cataracts from messing with depth perception and healthy sight. We’ve already established that certain conditions can mess with our vision and lead to balance issues (i.e., diabetes). Prevention says it’s common in diabetics, but can also be caused by infection, vitamin deficiencies, genetic disorders, alcoholism, or other trauma that inflicts nerve damage. The source cites a study that tested 938 people who were 40 or older and 21-percent showed signs of orthostatic hypotension. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention point to certain sedatives, antidepressants, antihistamines, and blood pressure medications that have been linked to vision issues, drowsiness, dizziness, and to causing damage to the inner ear (our balance center). Uncontrolled diabetes can wreak havoc on just about every organ in the body—causing vision problems, improper functioning kidneys, nerve damage, oral issues, and troubles with balance. However, rather than targeting pain centers, migraine-associated vertigo attacks balance areas of the brain, causing instability. Yet, many of the most common causes of You doctor may also order blood tests to evaluate for causes of balance problems. According to Prevention, this condition is relatively common. “The disease attacks myelin, the protective covering of the nerves, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin,” writes the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada. She is constantly striving to live a more active and healthy life, from eating healthy, exercising, and just spending more time outdoors. There's no cure for cold sores and they may…, Herpes simplex virus is common in the United States. She enjoys cooking (with wine), walking her dog, reading, and recently joined a yoga studio! Muscle weakness can occur in one or both legs making walking difficult. Antiarrhythmics, vasodilators and digoxin (heart drugs) Pain relievers such as opioids However, many people do not have side effects … Antihistamines and decongestants Antihistamines block histamine receptors to prevent allergic reactions. For vertigo-caused balance issues, you may learn how to position your head to regain balance. Sometimes the solution is as simple as getting the right pair of glasses, but other times it can be due to something more serious, like an eye disease. One of the first signs of MS is loss of balance or numbness on one side of the body. Orthostatic hypotension occurs when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain and it can cause low blood pressure. Certain areas of the brain are responsible for movement and coordination, so if a tumor is sitting in the “right” spot it can affect balance and vertigo. The same source goes on to say it can affect the “facial, auditory and vestibular nerves near one of your ears.”. They are antihistamines, anticholinergics, or benzodiazepines. Prevention lists other signs of Peripheral neuropathy like sharp pain, dizziness, muscle weakness, stomach problems, numbness in the hands and feet, excessive sweating, and sensitivity to touch.