Flunarizine treatment in dizzy patients with vestibular hyperreactivity and hyperventilation

Flunarizine (10 mg/day) was given in an open pilot study to 14 patients with the primary complaint of dizziness, who showed vestibular hyperreactivity in the velocity step (VS) test and were proven to have a hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) without any other disease. The VS test was repeated after 4-6 weeks of treatment. Twelve of these HVS patients reported alleviation of dizziness. Objective evaluation of the results of treatment was attempted by defining suitable response parameters and comparing their values to those obtained in a control group of 14 healthy volunteers tested twice with the same interval. A significant decrease in right-left asymmetry in the VS responses of the patients on drug was found.