Vertigo and Omeprazole

Dear Ask The Doctor: I've been having mild vertigo for about a week. I notice it most when I'm sitting still. Moving around doesn't tend to make it better or worse. I've been taking Omeprazole for about three weeks. I've had two dizzy spells lasting only a few seconds, once when I was sitting at my desk, once when I tried to unblock my ears. My hearing and vision are unaffected. Is this something that will get better on its own? Could it be related to the medication?

Dear Eve: Vertigo has many causes. Ompeprazole can indeed cause vertigo but this is not a common side effect of the drug. Other causes of vertigo include Meniere's Disease, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and infections of the inner ear among other conditions. You should try switching to a different medication to see if your dizziness resolves