Overview
Introduction
For typical posterior canal BPPV, the Epley canalith repositioning procedure is first line treatment.
For typical posterior-canal BPPV, the Epley canalith repositioning procedure is first-line treatment. Its purpose is mechanical: sequential head and body positions use gravity to move the otoconia out of the semicircular canal and back toward the utricle. It treats the cause rather than merely reducing the sensation of vertigo. The manoeuvre should be performed by a qualified clinician or taught for home use only when the correct technique and affected side have been established. The patient may experience brief vertigo or nausea as the particles move; provide physical support and pause if the response becomes unsafe. If symptoms persist, the clinician should reconsider the affected canal, repeat or modify treatment as appropriate, or arrange vestibular follow-up. Meclizine and benzodiazepines are not routine treatment for BPPV. They do not relocate the otoconia, may impair alertness and balance, and can delay definitive repositioning therapy. Medication that sedates a patient who is already at risk of falling can create a second problem without correcting the first. For NCLEX-RN (Canada), items rarely announce the topic in the first sentence. Anchor to objective data, trajectory,...
