Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an inner ear disease that affects approximately 20% of patients presenting to dizziness clinics. Dizziness bothers the patient especially when he lies on his back or turns on his side in bed. Sometimes during the day, severe dizziness may occur when bending forward or reaching on a high shelf. An imbalance is often felt when walking straight, but there is no severe spinning sensation. It is typical for BPPV to begin a few seconds after lying down and disappear within thirty seconds at most when the head position is not changed. The disease basically occurs when particles consisting of calcium carbonate crystals, called otoliths, located in our inner ear, break away from their location and escape into one of the three semicircular canals (SEC), which are important elements in maintaining our balance.

The diagnosis of patients is made by observing nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) that occurs when the patient turns his head 45 degrees to one side, then tilts it back, and the head hangs down approximately 30 degrees, called the Dix Hallpike test. In some patients, nystagmus may not occur, but the patient may feel dizzy or nauseated.
The treatment of BPPV, which is characterized by crystals escaping into the canal, is the corrective EPLEY maneuver. Medicines that are not curative but relieve dizziness and nausea can be used to relieve the patient. Except in this case, medications have no place in the treatment of BPPV.