A man suffering from vertigo has been cured after taking a drug being trialled at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Colin Breeze, 61, was hit with the rare disorder, Ménière's disease, which affects the inner ear and can cause vertigo, after suffering weekly bouts of such debilitating dizziness he would often be pinned to the floor, unable to move or stop himself from being sick.

This often left Mr Breeze, from Little Walsingham Close, South Wootton, near King's Lynn, bedridden for days with severe exhaustion.

He said: 'If you'd said to me here's a million pounds, get yourself up those stairs or even onto the settee, I couldn't have done it, it was absolutely impossible. It's the most debilitating thing I've ever experienced in my life, the feeling was horrendous.'

As the condition is incurable, Mr Breeze, who works at Williams Refrigeration in North Lynn, didn't know how he would cope.

He said: 'I thought, 'how am I going to carry on working?'. I could lose my job, my livelihood and all as a result of the condition'.'

But a doctor at his GP surgery suggested he visit the ear, nose and throat team at the NNUH, to see if he would be eligible for a research trial there.

He saw John Phillips, consultant ENT surgeon leading the OTO-104 drug study at the hospital, and added: 'He looked me in the eye and said, 'Colin, I'm going to make you better'. I was so relieved. This research trial has changed my life.'

After four injections of the drug in his ear, Mr Breeze no longer suffers from any dizziness or related sickness, but he needs to go back in February next year for a check-up.

Following the success of this UK phase of the trial, the research team will be embarking on a wider, international phase in the new year.

to find out more about the next phase of the trial at the NNUH, call on 01603 646105 or email kirsti.withington@nnuh.nhs.uk

Has hospital treatment cured your condition? Email david.bale2@archant.co.uk