[Dogmatil and vertigo in the aged subject. Apropos of 10 years' prescribing].

Dogmatil, whose effectiveness on vertigo resulting from peripheral causes is well-documented, is just as potent in central vestibular disorders. In elderly patients, the most common etiology of vertigo is a combination of varying degrees of vertebrobasilar insufficiency, arteriosclerosis and arthrosis of the cervical spine. Patients usually present with a permanent feeling of unsteadiness and anxiety, while electronystagmographic changes are usually of little significance. In most instances, Dogmatil is prescribed in a daily dose of 150 to 200 mg for 4 to 6 weeks, usually in the form of capsules. Three or four days are usually needed for the effect of Dogmatil to become apparent. However, in a non-negligible number of cases, the clinical effect of Dogmatil is clearly noticeable by the patient himself after 48 hours. Dogmatil is remarkably well-tolerated by the elderly, whether it is given as the sole medication or associated with other drugs which cannot be discontinued, such as those prescribed for cardiovascular or respiratory disorders.