Menieres and driving

Doctor told me to get regular exercise I enjoy an hour each time that I sweat walk, bicycle ,swim. He gives me Chinese herbal medicine. Lead a balanced life. He said I could drive. Also told me to take motion sickness medicine if I'm feeling prone to getting a dizzy spell and avoid driving at that time. I still have my license and don't seem to get spells as often. I've had menieres for about 5 years with hearing loss in right ear. I'm learning how to live with it.

Betahistine is very likely to work and control your symptons - it takes time and you may need a much higher dose than is recommended in the BNF, my consultant put me on 3 times the amount (48mg tds) and it has worked. I have not had an attack for nearly a year now. I delayed telling DVLA until I was sure symptoms were under control and have kept my licence. It very much depends on if you have sufficient warning that an attack is starting to safely stop and seek help. If onset is sudden and disabling clearly you should not drive. I hope you have seen an appropriate consultant aural physiologist or ENT surgeon! Incidentally betahistine may reverse some of your hearing damage - it improved mine but I still have tinnitus and low frequency loss in my left ear. Good luck.

I was diagnosed with Menieres disease on 30 March 2015 aged 49 by an ENT specialist who specialises in MD. Had my first episode from nowhere on 11 March 2015 at work when I got up from lunch and almost collapsed with everything spinning. Have had 7 or 8 serious episodes. Starts with vertigo for up to 4 or 5 hours. Have found Buccastem tablets reduce nausea. After episode I am in bed for day as dizzy, then a day when I can move around a bit and following day I feel well enough to move around. Also found eyes were light sensitive and once episodes stopped took while for body to feel right again. I am on Betahistine tablets 3 x 16mg three times a day. Started 1 tablet per day and increased by 1 tablet per week until systems subsided. Also on low salt diet. Aim  for 1000mg per day. So goodbye takeaways, bacon and sausages. Gave up alcohol 10yrs ago so no problem there. Had 4- 5 weeks off work and was a difficult time. Will try to reduce medication after 12 months if no more episodes.     Was good to read about other people experiences. Have tinnitus and reduced hearing in my right ear. Get fullness feeling in ear sometimes too. Have started running which helps me appreciate feeling well enough to do that and I read somewhere that exercise can help. Also tried to reduce stress at work. Looking at other peoples symptoms and experiences on line I think I try to appeciate every day I don't have a vertigo episode. In NZ we can drive if we get warnings of an attack. I stopped driving until I was epsiode free anyway as the movement of the car affected me and I did not feel confident to drive.

Hi I am in the same boat. I sent my form to DVLA about a month ago but just got a letter to say there is a backlog. My specialist said they don't take your licence unless you get no warning. Don't forget to notify your insurance too. I am on betahistine and buccastem and am a long t better than 1-2 months ago. Still all stinking in thougg