How long vertigo lasts, and what speeds recovery - USA Today

When everything is spinning, a few minutes feels like an eternity. But the actual length of vertigo episodes can last from minutes to weeks. All vertigo deserves an evaluation from a doctor, according to Rebecca Andrews, PT, DPT who specializes in vertigo and vestibular issues at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Connecticut, especially if it is prolonged.

Vertigo is the feeling that the room is spinning around you, even when you’re not moving, and is often related to an inner ear issue, Cleveland Clinic says. Here’s what to know about when everything will stop spinning, and how the cause of vertigo relates to its length.

"It really depends on the underlying cause. Some conditions can resolve within a few sessions, while others require weeks or months of rehabilitation," Andrews says. For instance, vertigo related to Meniere’s disease can last from 20 minutes to 12 hours. Other conditions can last for seconds to days.

Also, people often confuse vertigo with other types of dizziness, which can last much longer. Andrews says these include:

"The important point is that there isn't one standard timeline for 'vertigo.' The underlying diagnosis, severity, duration of symptoms and response to treatment all influence recovery," she says.

"With BPPV, positional repositioning maneuvers performed by a trained physical therapist can often resolve symptoms very quickly – sometimes within one or a few treatment sessions," Andrews says, adding that these maneuvers work by using specific head and body positions to guide the displaced inner-ear crystals, or otoconia, out of the semicircular canal and back to their appropriate location. 

Some causes of vertigo aren’t as easily shortened, such as vestibular migraine, vestibular neuritis or PPPD, Andrews says. "These might require different approaches, such as vestibular rehabilitation, migraine management, habituation exercises or treatment targeting the specific underlying cause."

Andrews, along with Dr. Jason Bellak, principal investigator for clinical research at the Allergy and Asthma Center in Las Vegas, say to watch for more concerning symptoms. These may require medical attention:

"Do not drive or operate machinery. Do not drink alcohol. Rest. Meclizine is used for motion sickness and ondansetron (Zofran) may help some of the symptoms," adds Bellak. "I recommend always seeing a medical professional for vertigo. I recommend urgently seeing a medical professional if any of the above signs/symptoms occur."