Resuming driving

Hi Sarah.  I am 37, been diagnosed for 4 years, and I still drive.  I get my vertigo attacks about every 2 months and they last from 4-48 hours.   When I’m not having an attack, I still have daily dizziness but not bad enough to quit my job yet or stop driving.  I do occasionally lay down at work though for 30 minutes which helps a lot.   I do not drive on the highway or any long distances.   Just locally around my town.  I have gotten attacks twice while driving but have been able to focus my eyes and concentrate enough to get home and immediately crawl into bed.   I have heard that sometimes the state will revoke people’s licenses who have vertigo so I pray that my doctor never reports me bc I am a single mom and have to take my kids to school and go to work.

Hi Sarah,

I have to say I'm quite shocked that people are actually driving when they have MD.  In the UK dizziness (i.e. MD) is on the list of notifiable problems you have to let the DVLA know about so if you don't and you still drive it would make your insurance invalid.  So there is that aspect to think about.  Plus of course there is the possibility of having an attack that causes an accident to people other than yourself.  I have had MD for over ten years and I would categorically not get behind the wheel of a car - a dangerous weapon in the hands of someone who is not fit to drive.  I have been in the car as a passenger and had attacks that make my world flip upside down and been heartily glad that I was not driving.  I would most definitely have crashed and they were entirely out of the blue.  Luckily I rarely get an attack like that and mostly feel one coming on so can do something about it.  But the worst one I had was the first and it was in the car.  I'd never had one like it before so just because you normally have ones where you can cope and get home doesn't mean to say you won't have a sudden onset bad one.  YOU SHOULD NOT DRIVE WITH MD.  You are not insured.

Sorry about being so blunt but I feel strongly about this and so would you if you imagined yourself with one of your nearest and dearest killed in an accident caused by an MD attack either to you or by some other driver.  Put yourself in that position and think very carefully about what you are doing.  One and a half miles is not too far to walk or cycle for your daughter.  Nor for you.  (I actually don't ride a bike either where I might fall off into traffic)  So please don't drive.

You are right to say the DVLA is not totally prohibitive on this issue. The question is if an attack starts whilst driving would you be able to stop safely?

When I first had the disease and was having acute attacks I stopped driving voluntarily for about a month. As the effectiveness of Betahistine improved and attacks ceased I resumed. I had discussions with my GP and consultant. Both said to inform DVLA and insurers.  I waited until I had been free of symptoms for about 5 months and then completed the form on the DVLA website indicating the medication I was taking and that I was symptom free. They cleared me to continue driving. My insurers were very relaxed and said if DVLA were happy so were they.

So - if you are on betahistine get the dose up to a level where you are completely controlled, stay on that for 5 to 6 months then wean off. If symptoms start to return go straight back on max dose and increase further if necessary. This strategy worked brilliantly for me. My max was 64mg tds and I have permission to go higher if needed!

An afterthought - have you been checked for BPPV - I got a touch of that too about 2 years after first diagnosis.

It was succesfully managed with 3 Epley manouevres and has not reappeared. Touch wood.