CVT Pharmacology & Medication Effects on Vestibular Function Flashcards

Which agent is administered intratympanically to chemically ablate vestibular function in refractory Meniere's disease?

Answer: Gentamicin

Low-dose intratympanic gentamicin selectively destroys vestibular hair cells while attempting to spare cochlear function, reducing the frequency of drop attacks.

Betahistine is thought to benefit Meniere's disease by:

Answer: Improving microvascular blood flow in the inner ear stria vascularis

Betahistine is believed to act as an H3 antagonist and H1 agonist, improving cochlear and vestibular microcirculation to reduce endolymphatic hydrops.

A vestibular therapist should educate patients taking benzodiazepines for vertigo that long-term use:

Answer: May slow or impair central vestibular compensation

Benzodiazepines suppress CNS activity, reducing the error signals that drive neuroplastic vestibular compensation and delaying recovery.

Scopolamine transdermal patches are most commonly used in vestibular care to treat:

Answer: Motion sickness

Scopolamine, an anticholinergic, blocks muscarinic receptors in the vestibular nucleus and vomiting center, making it effective for motion sickness prevention.

Which medication class used for vestibular migraine prophylaxis includes topiramate and valproate?

Answer: Anticonvulsants and mood stabilizers

Anticonvulsants such as topiramate and valproate reduce cortical spreading depression and neuronal hyperexcitability implicated in vestibular migraine.

Furosemide (loop diuretic) ototoxicity most commonly manifests as:

Answer: Sensorineural hearing loss and potential vestibular damage

Loop diuretics reduce endocochlear potential by inhibiting ion transport in the stria vascularis, causing sensorineural hearing loss and possible vestibular hypofunction.