What causes vertigo?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Causes of peripheral vertigo include:[1][2][3][4][5]

    • Inner-ear problems, such as neuronitis or labyrinthitis, and Ménière’s disease
    • Vestibular nerve problems, such as pressure on, or inflammation or infection of, the vestibular nerve
    • Medications which have vertigo as a side effect, including some antibiotics, diuretics, salicylates and cisplatin
    • Head injury affecting peripheral vestibular structures
    • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of peripheral vertigo

    Causes of central vertigo include:

    • Certain conditions, such as blood vessel disease or multiple sclerosis (MS)
    • An inadequate blood supply to the brain, such as a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
    • Medications such as aspirin and anti-epileptic drugs (e.g., phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine)
    • Drinking alcohol
    • Head injury affecting central vestibular structures
    • Posterior fossa brain tumors[6]
    • Vestibular migraine