Neurotransmitters in the Vestibular System (i.e. system of balance)

[[La...]]

These two documents illuminate how many neurotransmitters are involved in the vestibular system. If you've taken a psychiatric medication that affects the neurotransmitters, then dizziness is usually a common side effect and withdrawal effect. Based on the following two documents, the list of neurotransmitters that play a role in balance include:

 

Glutamate

Acetylcholine

GABA

Glycine

Dopamine

Serotonin

Norepinephrine

Histamine

 

There are other substances as well.

 

In the second document, you'll notice they list some medications -- known as vestibular suppressants -- that are sometimes used in the acute phase of some types of dizziness. Benzodiazepines are on the list, as well as antihistamines and anticholinergics. They come with major warnings, including the fact that they can cause dependence and interfere with your body's ability to normalize via the process of vestibular compensation. So, it's not surprising that those of us who took benzodiazepines for long periods of time are dizzy.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27638061 

 

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/treatment/drug/drugrx.html 

 

[[li...]]

Thanks.

 

'Addiction is possible to the anticholinergics. While this has only been described for scopolamine (Luetje and Wooten 1996), it seems likely that other anticholinergics may also have addiction syndromes.'

 

Addiction or physical dependence ?

 

Anyway, I have experience with two antimuscarinic drugs thet obviously acted on the vestibular system. I didn't have any tinnitus prior to that. I got a major reaction once when I tried to taper clonazepam. Right after the antimuscarinic.

So no anticholinergics in clonazepam withdrawal ? Stupid GP.

 

Of course neurotransmitters interact.

 

My most recent experiences, diazepam can cause tinnitus !

 

[[La...]]

For sure, liberty. I've got both dizziness and tinnitus. And yes, the neurotransmitters interact. It's a bit like dominos! If only I'd known before I took that first benzo.. and then the SSRI.....UGH.

 

Also, I do believe the appropriate term would be "physical dependence", but not everyone makes the delineation. I think we should correct that wherever we can.

[[li...]]

The other side of that coin, 'physical dependence' seems benign. You're merely dependent, depending on something ... maybe it's good ! Like a diabetic on insulin ...

 

'addiction' is right in some ways ... but not in some others ... (abuse/craving/dose escalation/willpower)