Why Do You Wake Up Dizzy?

Written by Camille Noe Pagán
Medically Reviewed by Jabeen Begum, MD on July 17, 2025
6 min read

If you wake up feeling weak, woozy, or unsteady, it can be a sign of anything from not getting enough to drink to a medical condition like sleep apnea.

Occasional mild dizziness in the morning probably isn't serious. But call your doctor if you feel dizzy regularly, or if you feel like the room is spinning after you get out of bed.

Many kinds of medicine can cause dizziness, in the morning or at other times. Among them are:

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you think one of your medications is causing you to feel dizzy. That can be a sign for your doctor to adjust the dose or type of medicine you're taking.

If you don't drink enough fluids, or the right fluids, you can become dehydrated. Too much alcohol or caffeine can leave you dehydrated. Too little fluid in your system makes it hard for your brain and body to work right, which can lead to dizziness.

Of course, you can't drink water in your sleep. But if you skimp on water and other liquids for several hours before bedtime, you might be especially dehydrated in the morning. Certain medications, such as heart medicine, put you at an even higher risk of dehydration.

If you also feel confused, thirsty, and don't need to pee when you wake up, you could be dehydrated. Drink some water. And make sure you get enough fluids throughout the day to help you avoid morning dizziness from dehydration.

When you have heart failure, it means your heart isn't pumping blood around your body as well as it should. When heart failure is severe, your heart can't handle the natural drop in blood pressure when you stand up. As a result, you can get dizzy.

People with heart failure also often take a lot of medicines for their condition, including blood pressure pills and diuretics , which can add to problems with dizziness.

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes you to stop breathing for several seconds at a time throughout the night. That lowers the amount of oxygen in your blood, which can make you dizzy.

Sleep apnea also makes it hard to get good-quality sleep. When you're sleep-deprived, you may feel weak, shaky, or like you don't have your balance.

If you're often dizzy in the morning and you snore, or if you feel very tired after what should have been a good night's sleep, talk to your doctor about a test for sleep apnea.

Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is defined as a blood glucose lower than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). It can cause hormonal and chemical changes in your body that may make you feel shaky or dizzy in the morning.

If you have diabetes and take insulin or sulfonylurea drugs, you have a higher risk of low blood sugar. But you don't need to have diabetes to experience it — low blood sugar can also result from taking certain medications, drinking alcohol without eating, and other health conditions such as severe liver disease.

Most of the time, morning dizziness isn't the only sign of low blood sugar. You might also feel confused or sweat heavily. If your blood sugar is low, you can raise it by eating or drinking something that contains sugar s, such as orange juice.

Canals in your inner ear help you keep your balance. If you damage your inner ear, it can throw you off balance and make you feel dizzy or feel like the room is spinning. That's called vertigo.

That dizzy feeling can come at any time. It typically happens when you change positions from lying down to sitting or standing, such as when you get up in the morning.

If you have vertigo, you might also feel nauseated or throw up. The condition isn't serious and often goes away on its own. If not, a doctor, physical therapist, or audiologist can guide you through a series of movements that will restore the balance in your ears.

To stop feeling dizzy when you wake up, try drinking water first thing in the morning. As a reminder, set a full glass of water or a water bottle next to your bed the night before. In the morning, sit up slowly. Then, reach for your water and drink up. This will help if dehydration is causing the problem.

If your dizziness is caused by a medical condition, follow the treatment plan you and your doctor discussed. When trying to find a cause for morning dizziness, keeping a log to share with your doctor may be helpful. Jot down the dates when you woke up dizzy. Note anything that may have played a role, such as: 

  • Not drinking enough water
  • A migraine headache
  • Missing doses of medication
  • Standing up too fast
  • Snoring or stopping breathing while sleeping

To avoid waking up dizzy, start preparing the day and night before:

  • Drink water throughout the day.
  • Drink water right before bed.
  • Take all medications as prescribed.
  • Rise slowly to a sitting position when you get up in the morning. Stay sitting for a minute or so before standing up.

Waking up dizzy once in a while may not be cause for alarm. But if you regularly feel dizzy in the morning, it's time to contact your doctor. Also, see your doctor if dizziness comes on suddenly, lasts a long time, or makes you feel off-balance.

Get emergency medical care if your dizziness happens along with other symptoms, such as:

  • Difficulty breathing or speaking
  • Double vision
  • Fainting or seizure
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat
  • Sudden serious pain in your head or chest

Waking up dizzy usually is not a cause for concern. The most common causes are not drinking enough water, having a medical condition like sleep apnea, or experiencing a medication side effect. Staying hydrated helps prevent morning dizziness. So does following your doctor's instructions for treating medical conditions. If you wake up dizzy regularly, or it comes on suddenly and is serious, call your doctor.

Why am I so weak and shaky when I wake up?

Feeling dizzy and shaky first thing in the morning may be a sign of low blood sugar. This may be true especially if you take medication for diabetes. 

Why do I feel dizzy after getting out of bed?

Sometimes, getting out of bed too quickly can make you feel dizzy or like you’re going to lose your balance. Standing up too fast can make your blood pressure drop, causing dizziness and lightheadedness.