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Ménière's disease

Ménière's disease is a rare inner ear condition that can affect your balance and hearing. It cannot be cured, but treatment can help the symptoms.

Check if you have Ménière's disease

Ménière's disease symptoms come and go.

When you get symptoms, they start suddenly and can last anywhere between a few minutes and 24 hours. Some people have symptoms more often than others.

Symptoms include:

Over time, your hearing may gradually get worse and you may get constant tinnitus.

Information:

If you're not sure it's Ménière's disease

Having these symptoms does not mean you definitely have Ménière's disease.

Conditions that can have similar symptoms include:

Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

  • you have symptoms of Ménière's disease

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

You feel like you or everything around you is spinning and:

  • your face droops on 1 side (the mouth or eye may have drooped)
  • you cannot lift up both arms and keep them there
  • you have difficulty speaking (speech may be slurred or garbled)
  • you have sudden problems with the vision in 1 eye

These can be signs of a stroke, which is a medical emergency. The symptoms of a stroke usually come on suddenly.

What happens at your appointment

If you have symptoms of Ménière's disease, a GP will ask you about your symptoms, check inside your ears, and look at your head and neck.

They may also ask you to do some exercises, such as marching on the spot or standing with your heels together and your eyes closed.

If the GP thinks you have Ménière's disease, they'll refer you to a specialist for further tests, such as blood tests and an MRI scan.

Treatment for Ménière's disease

There's no cure for Ménière's disease, but your symptoms can be managed with treatment.

Treatment includes:

Rarely, you may be offered surgery on your inner ear if you're finding it difficult to manage your symptoms.

Ménière's disease can have an impact on your everyday life, which can affect your mental health.

Counselling and relaxation techniques, such as breathing exercises, can help.

Things you can try to help with Ménière's disease

Ménière's disease symptoms can come on suddenly and without warning.

There are some lifestyle changes you can make that may help manage the symptoms.

Do

  • keep your medicines with you at all times

  • consider the risks and take care if doing things like swimming, climbing ladders or using dangerous machinery

  • drink lots of fluids

  • talk to a GP about trying a low-salt diet

  • try to avoid caffeine in drinks such as tea and coffee and foods like chocolate

Don’t

  • do not drive if you feel dizzy or symptoms of vertigo are coming on

  • do not drink alcohol

  • do not smoke

Important

You must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you have dizziness that comes on suddenly or happens often.

GOV.UK: Dizziness or vertigo and driving

Information:

Find out more

Page last reviewed: 25 April 2023
Next review due: 25 April 2026