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There are many reasons you may be dizzy when you wake up, even after a good night’s sleep. Here is a run-down on some reasons, and a few solutions.

Feb. 5, 2025

By Derek Hiltz, DO
Optum - Pasadena
St. Petersburg, Florida

Getting a good night’s sleep should leave you refreshed, but if you are dizzy after waking up, it can be scary.  Most causes of dizziness are easily treatable, but if you have other symptoms such as chest pain, severe headaches or a fast heart rate, see your doctor right away.

Common causes of dizziness when you wake up include:

  1. Dehydration

You may feel dizzy if you don’t drink enough water. Drinking coffee or alcohol before bedtime can lead to morning dizziness. Dizziness may also be caused by sweating while you sleep. A 2022 study says low water intake may lead to dizziness.

  1. Low blood pressure

Dizziness is a common symptom of low blood pressure. You may have low blood pressure for a short time after a night’s sleep. Dehydration may also cause low blood pressure.

  1. Medication

Many common medications can cause dizziness so read the labels to see if dizziness or vertigo are listed as side effects.

Medications that may cause dizziness include:

  • Anti-seizure drugs
  • Antidepressants
  • Blood pressure drugs
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Nitroglycerin
  • Pain relievers
  • Sleep aids
  1. Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea can make you stop breathing for short periods while sleeping. This can lower your oxygen levels and make you feel dizzy when you wake up. If you have sleep apnea, you may also get dry mouth and headaches in the morning.

  1. Heart failure

A more serious cause of morning dizziness is heart failure. With heart failure, the heart is not pumping enough blood through the body. Problems with the heart can often affect your blood pressure and cause dizziness.

Is morning dizziness dangerous?

Morning dizziness usually is not dangerous or a cause for concern. However, it’s a good idea to have your doctor check your blood pressure and review your medications. If concerned, your doctor may order tests to help diagnose or rule out underlying conditions.

How do you manage morning dizziness?

Morning dizziness can often be prevented. Here are some suggestions that may help.

  1. Drink lots of water

Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Water also helps replenish fluids that are lost while sweating.

If drinking alcohol, have a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. This helps your body from becoming dehydrated. If you don’t like water, try adding lemon or lime juice, which also adds electrolytes.

  1. Manage your blood pressure

Check your blood pressure often to make sure it isn’t too low. If it is, talk to your doctor about ways to keep it at a normal level.

You can also try exercising and eating small meals several times a day. These activities may help prevent low blood pressure.

  1. Talk to your doctor about changing medications

If medications are making you dizzy, ask your doctor about other options. There may be different medications that don’t cause dizziness. Your doctor may even suggest other treatments for your condition.

  1. If diagnosed with sleep apnea, stick to your treatment plan

A treatment regimen can help you sleep better at night and reduce some complications of sleep apnea, such heart problems and type 2 diabetes.

Being overweight, smoking and drinking alcohol are risk factors for sleep apnea that can be avoided with behavioral changes. Drinking  less alcohol can also help.

  1. Get up slowly

Sitting down or standing up too fast may cause dizziness. Notice the way you get up in the morning. Do you rise out of bed quickly to turn off an alarm? Do you sit up immediately upon waking? Try lying in bed for a few minutes when you wake up. Then, move slowly and carefully getting out of bed. This may help you avoid morning dizziness.

 If none of the above suggestions help, see your doctor. Your clinician can review your medical history and discuss treatment options.

WellMed is dedicated to providing quality health care with a strong focus on prevention. Our lifestyle medicine doctors can work with you to find out why you are dizzy when you wake up. Contact WellMed today at (888) 781-WELL or visit our website to find a doctor near you.

Resources

  1. Altın, B., & Aksoy, S. (2022). Is Inadequate Water Intake a Risk Factor for Vestibular Disorders? The Journal of International Advanced Otology, 18(3), 264–268. https://doi.org/10.5152/iao.2022.21303
  2. American Heart Association. (2023, May 25). Low Blood Pressure – When Blood Pressure Is Too Low. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/the-facts-about-high-blood-pressure/low-blood-pressure-when-blood-pressure-is-too-low
  3. Consumer Reports. (2017, September 14). Drugs That Might Be the Cause of Your Dizziness. https://www.consumerreports.org/drug-safety/drugs-that-might-be-the-cause-of-your-dizziness/?srsltid=AfmBOoryCcv9RnmOJDAz7KlEeLKC-IQiM7KK1CUKSXDBJtyTUsmKFnAz
  4. National Institutes of Health. (2022, March 24). Sleep Apnea – Symptoms. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/symptoms
  5. American Heart Association. (2023, March 22). What is heart failure? https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/what-is-heart-failure
  6. National Institutes of Health. (2022, March 24). Sleep Apnea Causes and Risk Factors. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea/causes

Derek Hiltz, DO is a board-certified family medicine physician. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and completed his residency at Sun Coast Hospital in Largo, Florida. He is committed to providing quality care to his patients.

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