Medication

• The primary objective of medical treatment for Meniere's Disease is to reduce the pressure in the inner ear. Some cases of Meniere's Disease are believed to be caused by the herpes simplex virus. Acycloguanosine (Acyclovir) is an anti-herpes drug that shows some promise in treating Meniere's Disease. It's most effective in the early stages of the disease, because it can halt the disease's progression but can't heal damage that has already occurred.
  
  The long-term use of acycloguanosine may also be beneficial in halting further damage by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes viruses can dormant in nerve cells for a prolonged period and the continued use of acycloguanosine can prevent the virus from becoming active again. Acycloguanosine may also be effective against different strains of the herpes virus, each of which can cause differences in the exact type of damage to the ear.
  
  The increased pressure in the inner ear may also be treated with a variety of anticholinergics, antihistamines, diuretics and steroids. Diazepam (Valium) can also treat Meniere's disease by sedating the vestibular system.
  
  

Surgery

• Surgery may be performed to eliminate the vertigo caused by Meniere's disease if medical treatment is not effective. This is generally considered only as a last resort because it will result in the permanent loss of the sense of balance in the affected ear. A labyrinthectomy is a procedure that involves injecting a chemical agent such as gentamicin into the ear. This destroys the vestibular apparatus that provides the sense of balance. A surgeon can also perform a vestibular neurectomy, which cuts the nerve that transmits the sense of balance to the brain. These procedures will not affect the sense of balance in the other ear, nor will they prevent further hearing loss due to Meniere's disease.
  
  Surgery may also be able to provide temporary relief from the symptoms of Meniere's disease by relieving the pressure on the endolymphatic sac. This usually decreases the occurrence of vertigo in the short term but will not affect the long-term course of vertigo due to Meniere's disease, nor will it affect hearing loss.