Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEar Infection Pain ReliefSwimmer’s EarEarwax RemovalWhen Not to Use Ear DropsWhen to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Ear Infection Pain Relief
Swimmer’s Ear
Earwax Removal
When Not to Use Ear Drops
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops are available to treat ear infection pain and other common conditions like swimmer’s ear. The ear drops can be a helpful remedy to relieve symptoms ofearwaxbuildup.
Withear infections, however, your healthcare provider may decide to treat you with prescription ear drops or other therapies. Antibiotic and steroid drops are used in conditions likebullous myringitis(infection of the eardrum).If OTC ear drops don’t help you, another condition such aseustachian tube(auditory tube) dysfunction may be the cause of your symptoms.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these prescription ear drops should only be used after a careful and thorough evaluation of the included ingredients.This is because they have not been verified as safe and effective for everyday use forear painand swelling due to ear infections.
Ingredients that have been shown to cause adverse reactions include:
Home remedies, such as essential oils, are not recommended for ear infections. There’s no proof of benefit and they could be damaging.
If you are experiencing ear pain and think you may have an ear infection, the best thing to do is to use an approved OTC oral pain reliever and see your healthcare provider.
Over-the-Counter Ear Drop BrandsOver-the-counter ear drops can help to relieve symptoms that include ear pain, hearing loss, itching and infection, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).Some popular OTC ear drops include:Polysporin Plus Pain Relief Ear DropsBiovea Ear Soothing OilHyland’s Earache DropsMurine Ear DropsRead the directions and ingredient list carefully and speak to a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure which ear drops are right for you.
Over-the-Counter Ear Drop Brands
Over-the-counter ear drops can help to relieve symptoms that include ear pain, hearing loss, itching and infection, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).Some popular OTC ear drops include:Polysporin Plus Pain Relief Ear DropsBiovea Ear Soothing OilHyland’s Earache DropsMurine Ear DropsRead the directions and ingredient list carefully and speak to a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure which ear drops are right for you.
Over-the-counter ear drops can help to relieve symptoms that include ear pain, hearing loss, itching and infection, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).Some popular OTC ear drops include:
Read the directions and ingredient list carefully and speak to a healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure which ear drops are right for you.
Swimmer’s ear dropscontain glycerin or isopropyl alcohol that combines with the water in the ear. This causes the water to evaporate, drying out the ear.Sometimes this is enough to help the infection resolve on its own.
Swimmer’s ear symptoms include:
Prescription ear drops are sometimes prescribed for swimmer’s ear if the infection requires antibiotic treatment. If your symptoms continue to persist or become worse after using an OTC ear drop for swimmer’s ear, see a healthcare provider since a prescription is likely needed.
How to Use Ear DropsUsing ear drops properlywill require you to lie down on your side with the affected ear facing the ceiling. Once you administer the drops, stay in that position for three to five minutes.
How to Use Ear Drops
Using ear drops properlywill require you to lie down on your side with the affected ear facing the ceiling. Once you administer the drops, stay in that position for three to five minutes.
OTC ear drops are either water- or oil-based. Earwax removal drops can help soften and dissolve earwax with ingredients including the following:
Although ear drops can be helpful in the removal of built-up earwax, there can be side effects. People with sensitive skin may experience skin irritation in and around the ear canal. Therefore, the drops should be used sparingly and only as directed.
Hydrogen peroxideis a home remedy that can help soften ear wax, but it’s not safe for those with ear pain, tubes, or a perforated eardrum.
In some situations, you should avoid using OTC ear drops. These include:
Over-the-counter ear drops used to treat ear conditions may be effective, but not always. You should reach out to your healthcare provider if your symptoms don’t improve or get worse over two to three days.
Will an Ear Infection Go Away On Its Own?Some infections will go away in a few days' time, but you may need to see a healthcare provider if symptoms persist.Your provider can diagnose the cause and severity of the infection and prescribe the appropriate ear drops. OTC ear drops may help relieve symptoms but they will not treat the infection itself.
Will an Ear Infection Go Away On Its Own?
Some infections will go away in a few days' time, but you may need to see a healthcare provider if symptoms persist.Your provider can diagnose the cause and severity of the infection and prescribe the appropriate ear drops. OTC ear drops may help relieve symptoms but they will not treat the infection itself.
Seek care immediately if you experience:
Other symptoms that require immediate attention includehives(which can suggest an allergic reaction), difficulty breathing, and dizziness.
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Summary
Over-the-counter drops can help treat several health issues affecting the ear. They can help with conditions like swimmer’s ear and excessive earwax but aren’t recommended for ear infections. Anesthetic ear drops, for example, may not relieve ear pain as well as common oral OTC medications do, and they can’t treat an infection.
See your healthcare provider if you think you may have an ear infection or if your symptoms persist for more than a couple of days.
A Word From Verywell
—KASHIF J. PIRACHA, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aaron K, Cooper TE, Warner L, Burton MJ.Ear drops for the removal of ear wax.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;7(7):CD012171. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2Devaraja K.Myringitis: an update.J Otol. 2019;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Food and Drug Administration.Unapproved and misbranded otic prescription drug products; enforcement action dates.OSF Healthcare System.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Cerumen impaction: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):525-529.Harvard Health Publishing,Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for earwax removal.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Otitis externa: get rid of swimmer’s ear.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.UpToDate.Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer’s ear) (Beyond the Basics).National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem compound summary for CID 31294, Carbamide peroxide.Srisukhumchai C, Kasemsiri P, Rattanaanekchai T, Srirompotong S, Yordpratum U, Sakolsinsiri C.A comparative in vitro study on the cerumenolytic effect of docusate sodium versus 2.5% sodium bicarbonate using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy.J Otol.2020;15(3):99-102. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2019.09.001Sogebi OA, Oyewole EA, Mabifah TO.Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: characteristics and factors affecting outcome.Ghana Med J.2018;52(1):34-40. doi:10.4314/gmj.v52i1.7American Tinnitus Association.Drug therapies.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Patient information FAQ: topical therapy for acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Ear infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Aaron K, Cooper TE, Warner L, Burton MJ.Ear drops for the removal of ear wax.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;7(7):CD012171. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2Devaraja K.Myringitis: an update.J Otol. 2019;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Food and Drug Administration.Unapproved and misbranded otic prescription drug products; enforcement action dates.OSF Healthcare System.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Cerumen impaction: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):525-529.Harvard Health Publishing,Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for earwax removal.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Otitis externa: get rid of swimmer’s ear.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.UpToDate.Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer’s ear) (Beyond the Basics).National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem compound summary for CID 31294, Carbamide peroxide.Srisukhumchai C, Kasemsiri P, Rattanaanekchai T, Srirompotong S, Yordpratum U, Sakolsinsiri C.A comparative in vitro study on the cerumenolytic effect of docusate sodium versus 2.5% sodium bicarbonate using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy.J Otol.2020;15(3):99-102. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2019.09.001Sogebi OA, Oyewole EA, Mabifah TO.Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: characteristics and factors affecting outcome.Ghana Med J.2018;52(1):34-40. doi:10.4314/gmj.v52i1.7American Tinnitus Association.Drug therapies.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Patient information FAQ: topical therapy for acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Ear infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Aaron K, Cooper TE, Warner L, Burton MJ.Ear drops for the removal of ear wax.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;7(7):CD012171. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2Devaraja K.Myringitis: an update.J Otol. 2019;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003Food and Drug Administration.Unapproved and misbranded otic prescription drug products; enforcement action dates.OSF Healthcare System.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.Michaudet C, Malaty J.Cerumen impaction: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):525-529.Harvard Health Publishing,Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for earwax removal.University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Otitis externa: get rid of swimmer’s ear.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.UpToDate.Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer’s ear) (Beyond the Basics).National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem compound summary for CID 31294, Carbamide peroxide.Srisukhumchai C, Kasemsiri P, Rattanaanekchai T, Srirompotong S, Yordpratum U, Sakolsinsiri C.A comparative in vitro study on the cerumenolytic effect of docusate sodium versus 2.5% sodium bicarbonate using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy.J Otol.2020;15(3):99-102. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2019.09.001Sogebi OA, Oyewole EA, Mabifah TO.Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: characteristics and factors affecting outcome.Ghana Med J.2018;52(1):34-40. doi:10.4314/gmj.v52i1.7American Tinnitus Association.Drug therapies.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Seborrheic dermatitis.American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Patient information FAQ: topical therapy for acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear).American Academy of Family Physicians.Ear infection.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
Aaron K, Cooper TE, Warner L, Burton MJ.Ear drops for the removal of ear wax.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2018;7(7):CD012171. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012171.pub2
Devaraja K.Myringitis: an update.J Otol. 2019;14(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2018.11.003
Food and Drug Administration.Unapproved and misbranded otic prescription drug products; enforcement action dates.
OSF Healthcare System.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.
Michaudet C, Malaty J.Cerumen impaction: diagnosis and management.Am Fam Physician.2018;98(8):525-529.
Harvard Health Publishing,Got an ear full? Here’s some advice for earwax removal.
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.Otitis externa: get rid of swimmer’s ear.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Swimmer’s ear.
UpToDate.Patient education: External otitis (including swimmer’s ear) (Beyond the Basics).
National Center for Biotechnology Information.PubChem compound summary for CID 31294, Carbamide peroxide.
Srisukhumchai C, Kasemsiri P, Rattanaanekchai T, Srirompotong S, Yordpratum U, Sakolsinsiri C.A comparative in vitro study on the cerumenolytic effect of docusate sodium versus 2.5% sodium bicarbonate using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy.J Otol.2020;15(3):99-102. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2019.09.001
Sogebi OA, Oyewole EA, Mabifah TO.Traumatic tympanic membrane perforations: characteristics and factors affecting outcome.Ghana Med J.2018;52(1):34-40. doi:10.4314/gmj.v52i1.7
American Tinnitus Association.Drug therapies.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Seborrheic dermatitis.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.Patient information FAQ: topical therapy for acute otitis externa (swimmer’s ear).
American Academy of Family Physicians.Ear infection.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Middle-ear infection in adults.
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