Dizziness: Causes, Medications, and What You Can Do About It
When you feel dizzy, it’s not just your head spinning—it’s your body sending a signal. dizziness, a sensation of unsteadiness, spinning, or lightheadedness that can stem from inner ear problems, nerve issues, or medication side effects. Also known as vertigo, it’s one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor—and often, it’s not what you think. Many assume it’s just from standing up too fast or not sleeping well, but the truth is, dizziness is frequently linked to the drugs you’re taking. SSRIs, for example, can lower sodium levels in your blood, leading to confusion and dizziness, especially in older adults. This isn’t rare—it’s called SSRI hyponatremia, a condition where antidepressants disrupt sodium balance, causing fluid shifts that affect brain function. And if you’ve been on multiple meds for months or years, you might be dealing with cumulative drug toxicity, when side effects slowly build up because your body can’t clear the drugs fast enough.
Dizziness doesn’t always come from physical damage. Sometimes, it’s your brain playing tricks on you. Studies show up to 76% of people reporting side effects like dizziness are taking placebos—meaning their expectations, not the drug, triggered the feeling. This is the nocebo effect, the negative counterpart to the placebo effect, where fear of side effects actually causes them. If you’ve been told a medication might make you dizzy, your brain might start sensing it even before the drug has time to act. That’s why it’s so important to talk to your pharmacist or doctor before assuming a new symptom is from the pill. It could be something else—like dehydration, low blood sugar, or even a change in your sleep position affecting your inner ear.
What makes dizziness tricky is that it’s rarely the main problem—it’s a symptom pointing to something deeper. Is it tied to your blood pressure meds? Could it be from salt restriction in kidney disease? Or maybe it’s a sign your body is reacting to a drug you’ve been taking too long? The posts below dig into exactly these connections: how antidepressants mess with sodium, how drug buildup over time causes unexpected symptoms, why placebos can make you feel worse, and how to tell if your dizziness is real or just your mind playing along. You’ll find real stories, real data, and real steps to take—not guesswork. If you’ve been told "it’s just anxiety" or "you’re getting older," this is your chance to dig deeper.
