What could cause severe lightheadedness when standing in someone with multiple myeloma?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Severe lightheadedness when standing in a person with multiple myeloma is often caused by orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when moving from sitting or lying down to standing. In multiple myeloma patients, this can result from dehydration, anemia, kidney dysfunction, high blood calcium levels, amyloidosis affecting the nerves that regulate blood pressure, or side effects from medications like chemotherapy or steroids.

Because dizziness on standing can signal serious complications, understanding the underlying cause is important. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you clarify your symptoms in minutes, identify potential causes tailored to your health profile, and guide you on the right next steps—whether that means contacting your oncologist, adjusting hydration, or seeking urgent care.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover likely causes of severe lightheadedness See if severe lightheadedness needs urgent care Find out if it could be multiple myeloma Compare OTC options for lightheadedness relief Find a doctor for multiple myeloma care Learn medically valid home remedies for lightheadedness Understand your symptoms with an online check

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Explanation

Lightheadedness when standing up can be a sign of orthostatic hypotension, especially in someone with multiple myeloma. This condition happens when blood pressure drops too much when a person stands up, which can make them feel dizzy or faint.

Possible Causes:

Delayed Orthostatic Hypotension: This is when the body's response to standing is slower, leading to dizziness or lightheadedness after a delay. It can be related to issues with blood vessels or nerves that control blood pressure (Reference 1).
Neurogenic Factors: Sometimes, the nerves that help control blood pressure don't work properly. This can cause the blood pressure to drop when standing, which is common in people with certain blood conditions (Reference 2).

What Can Be Done:

Monitoring and Management: It's important to keep an eye on blood pressure changes and manage them with the help of healthcare providers. They can offer treatments or lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms (Reference 3).

If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms, consider using a free AI symptom checker to better understand what might be causing them, and talk to a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and management.

(References)

Streeten DH, & Anderson GH Jr. (1992). Delayed orthostatic intolerance. Archives of internal medicine, 1580710.
Biaggioni I. (2014). New developments in the management of neurogenic .... Current cardiology reports, 25303896.
Gibson JS, Hunter CB, & Hewitt LA. (2020). A Call to Action: The Role of Healthcare Providers in .... Neurology and therapy, 32720118.

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