The dizzy elderly patient.

Dizziness is a common complaint in elderly people. For those elderly persons whose dizziness reflects true vertigo, the history, physical examination, investigations and underlying diseases are quite similar to those seen in members of younger age groups. However, non-specific dizziness, light-headedness or disequilibrium are much different in the elderly. Rarely is there a single specific cause for the symptom. Rather, it is the end result of an accumulation of factors, physiological and pathological. Successful amelioration requires careful assessment of the patient's entire medical condition, with appropriate treatment. The most important factors are the drug history and therapeutic drug withdrawal.