Good morning and TGIF! Welcome to another edition of Dr Euan's ENT blogpost!
The topic for today's blogpost is ear drops.
There are many different types of ear drops that can help you treat different conditions. Some ear drops can be bought over the counter, whereas some medicated eg antibiotic drops may require a prescription.
So if you want to know what kind of ear drops are right for you, let's have a look together shall we?
Q: What types of ear drops are there? What are they made of?
Ear drops are liquid medications that you put inside your ear canal. You can buy some kinds of ear drops over the counter. Others require a prescription from a doctor.
You should consult your doctor before using ear drops, especially if you have any drug allergies.
Additionally, you should avoid using ear drops at all if you think you might have a ruptured eardrum. Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum include ear pain, hearing loss, ringing in your ears (tinnitus), ear drainage and vertigo.
Q: What are some conditions ear drops are used to treat?
You may need to use ear drops if you have certain ear conditions, such as:
Middle ear infection (otitis media).
Outer ear infection, or swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).
Ear pain.
Earwax blockage from a cerumen (wax) impaction.
Itchy ears with or without eczema.
Ear discharge
Q: What kind of ear drops help to clear ear wax?
If you have ear wax buildup, certain ear drops can soften and loosen your earwax for easier removal.
You may want to consider using eardorps to help hardened earwax come out
There are three types of softening drops for earwax: water-based, non-water-based and oil-based. If you have impacted earwax, your GP may recommend ear drops containing:
Carbamide peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide.
Glycerin.
Sodium bicarbonate.
Once the medication has time to work, you should gently rinse your ear canals with warm water. Some products come with an ear syringe to make this step easier. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product packaging. If in doubt, please consult your GP.
Q: How do I know what kind of ear drops are right for me if I have an ear infection?
If you have an ear infection, your healthcare provider may recommend antifungal or antibiotic ear drops to help clear the infection.
Active ingredients in these antibiotic ear drops often include:
Acetic acid.
Aluminum acetate.
Ciprofloxacin.
Ofloxacin.
Tobramycin.
Gentamicin.
For Fungal infections, you will find these ingredients :
Clotrimazole.
Fluconazole.
Miconazole.
CAN I GET ANTIBIOTIC EAR DROPS OVER THE COUNTER?
No, antibiotic ear drops are NOT available over the counter. These medications require a prescription from a doctor.
Q: What kind of ear drops are suitable for children?
Generally, there is NO difference in treating children, for ear infections, your GP or ENT doctor may want to take an Ear swab for some discharge to send for Culture & Sensitivity to ascertain the most appropriate antibiotic ear drops for your child. So it may be a good idea to consult your GP / Paediatrician.
How should I use ear drops?
Here are some simple tips for helping you put ear drops in your ears:
Warm the bottle in your hand. (Ear drops that are too cool or too warm can cause dizziness.)
Lie down with the affected ear facing up toward the ceiling.
Hold the outer part of your ear (just above your ear lobe) and gently pull back. This helps straighten your ear canal.
Place the recommended number of drops into your ear canal.
Massage your tragus (the little piece of tissue that sits just in front of your ear canal). This encourages the drops down your ear canal.
Lie on your side for a few minutes. This allows the ear drops to reach your eardrum.
Sit up and allow any excess drops to drain out of your ear.
Do NOT stick objects in your ear canal, such as a cotton swab or hairpins.
Olive oil ear drops can help to loosen earwax and sometimes may even help it to fall out on its own
Q: When should I seek ear drops as treatment?
As outlined above, you can try ear drops as a first-line treatment, however, if the problem does NOT respond within a week, please see your GP or ENT doctor.
Q: How long will I need to use ear drops?
This depends on the condition and the type of ear drops you use. Ask your doctor how many days you’ll need to use ear drops. Closely follow the instructions on the packaging. If the ear condition does not improve by a week, please arrange to review with your doctor / ENT specialist.
Q: What are the benefits of using ear drops?
Ear drops can kill bacteria and fungi faster than oral medication. In some cases, ear drops may be the only treatment you need.
Q: What are the side effects of using ear drops?
The most common side effect is a stinging or burning sensation in your ear canal. This usually goes away within a few minutes and isn’t a cause for concern. However, if your symptoms worsen or do not go away, call your doctor for advice.
Anti-fungal ear drops eg Canestan do tend to have more such stinging effects.
Q: What are the risks of using ear drops?
Serious complications are rare, but you should call your doctor if you develop:
New pain symptoms
Redness or swelling around your ears.
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, dizziness or difficulty breathing.
Hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing).
Q: Will ear drops help if I have something stuck in my ear?
OH NO! If you can feel something stuck, or moving inside your ear, eardrops might help, but they may not help if the blockage is too big.
If you feel there is something stuck inside your ear canal, it is best to see your GP or ENT doctor to have a check-up; as sometimes you may be surprised what you find!
Please see my previous blogpost on when there is something stuck in your ear!
Have a great relaxing weekend! TGIF!
Dr Euan
If you would like to consult a specialist about ear drops, or any other ENT-related conditions, please feel free to Contact Us at Euan's ENT Surgery & Clinic to make an appointment.
If you are interested to read up more on EAR DROPS and their uses, do have a deeper dive into these references
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