15 Best Ear Drops
Ear pain is an unpleasant symptom of most ENT diseases. Ear drops can quickly relieve itching, burning, pain and stuffiness. But they do not affect the cause of the disease. It is important to understand the cause and act on it.

Ear drops are liquid medicines for topical use. They are used to treat and prevent infections of the outer and middle ear. Preparations may contain different components – antibiotics, local anesthetics and synthetic hormones glucocorticosteroids1. Consider the most popular and effective ear drops.

List of top 15 inexpensive and effective ear drops for adults according to KP

Antibiotic ear drops

Antibacterial ear drops are used to treat only bacterial infections. Combination preparations are often used, where the composition includes anti-inflammatory components that reduce the severity of symptoms.

1. Cypromed

A broad-spectrum antibacterial drug that contains the antibiotic ciprofloxacin as an active substance. Tsipromed is effective against most pathogens of otitis externa, acute and chronic otitis media.

Tsipromed should be instilled into the affected ear 2 times a day for 7-10 days. Taking drops is contraindicated in case of allergy to the components of the drug, as well as during lactation.

Advantages and disadvantages

fast action, effective against a wide range of bacteria.
can sometimes cause allergic reactions.

2. Dancil

An antimicrobial agent for the treatment of bacterial otitis, which contains oflosaccin. To quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms, the drug must be instilled 10 drops into the affected ear for 10 days.

Противопоказания: non-bacterial otitis media, hypersensitivity to components, pregnancy, lactation.

Advantages and disadvantages

effectiveness, suitable for children over 1 year old.
can cause local allergic reactions, at one time you need to drip a large amount of the drug (10 drops).

3. Polydex

Polydex ear drops are a combined preparation. In addition to antibiotics (neomycin and polymyxin B), Polydex contains the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone. The combination of active substances provides anti-inflammatory and bactericidal action.

The drug is contraindicated in viral and fungal otitis media, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.

Advantages and disadvantages

complex action due to the combined composition.
high price in the segment.

4. Sofradex

The composition of the drops includes the antibiotics gramicidin and framycetin in combination with the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone. The drug has a pronounced anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antibacterial effect. Removes puffiness, itching, feeling of congestion in the sore ear from the first application.

Sofradex is contraindicated in viral and fungal infections, during pregnancy and lactation.

Advantages and disadvantages

fast action from the first application.
sometimes it can cause burning and soreness in the ear.

5. Dexon

In addition to the hormonal agent dexamethasone, Dexon ear drops contain the antibiotic neomycin. When taken orally, neomycin is very toxic, but as part of ear drops it demonstrates high efficiency and practically does not have a negative effect on the body.

Dexon ear drops are contraindicated in children under 18 years of age, nursing women, as well as in viral and fungal infections of the ear.

Advantages and disadvantages

has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.
not a very convenient method of application – 3-4 times a day, 3-4 drops.

Antifungal ear drops

Otomycosis (fungal otitis) is an inflammatory process in the ear caused by mold or yeast-like fungi. Most often, a fungal infection develops with an injury to the external auditory canal during hygiene procedures and operations. In addition, the development of the disease can be provoked by endocrine diseases (primarily diabetes mellitus), prolonged use of antibiotics and hormonal drugs, and work in damp, dusty rooms.

6. Exoderil

Antifungal ear drops Exoderil are suitable for external use and contain naftifine 1% as an active substance in the composition. The drug is effective against mold and yeast-like fungi.

For the treatment of fungal otitis, Exoderil drops are used in combination with other antifungal agents as an application twice a day. The moistened cotton wool must be kept in the ear canal for 5-10 minutes daily for 10-14 days.

Exoderil is contraindicated in people with hypersensitivity to the components, pregnant and lactating women.

Advantages and disadvantages

minimum contraindications.
inconvenient way to use.
show more

7. Clotrimazole

The antifungal drug Clotrimazole is not available in the form of drops, but in the form of a cream, however, it has been successfully used to treat otomycosis. The cream is applied to the skin and mucous membranes of the ear twice a day.

Противопоказания: not applicable in case of allergy to the components of the drug. During pregnancy and lactation, it is used strictly according to the doctor’s prescription.

Advantages and disadvantages

high efficiency, therapeutic effect is observed on the 2nd-5th day of application.
sometimes causes local allergic reactions.
show more

8. Nitrofungin

Antifungal solution for external use, which contains 1% chlornitrophenol as the active substance in the composition. For the treatment of otomycosis, Nitrofungin is used in combination with naftifine. The use of the drug in the form of applications several times a day will help to quickly get rid of a fungal infection in the ear canal.

Противопоказания: individual intolerance to the components of the drug.

Advantages and disadvantages

pronounced antifungal activity.
can stain the skin, inconvenient method of application – several times a day.
show more

9. Mycospora

A solution for instillation into the ears of Mycospor is used as a second-line drug, since antifungal agents containing naftifine and clotrimazole are in the first place. Mycospor is effective against dermatophytes, yeast-like and mold fungi.

Противопоказания: not applicable in case of allergy to the components of the drug.

Advantages and disadvantages

there are almost no contraindications, under the supervision of a doctor, it can be used for children, pregnant and lactating women.
less effective than other antifungal drugs.
show more

10. Candibiotic

The drug Candibiotic has not only antifungal, but also anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects. It consists of clotrimazole, lidocaine, a hormonal agent and an antibacterial substance. Candibiotic is prescribed for all types of otitis media.

Противопоказания: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, children under 6 years of age, violation of the integrity of the tympanic membrane.

Advantages and disadvantages

helps reduce pain and inflammation, inhibits the vital activity of fungi and bacteria.
sometimes causes itching and burning.

Anti-inflammatory ear drops

Ear drops with anti-inflammatory action are used for allergic, bacterial or fungal diseases of the ears. They relieve the severity of symptoms, but do not affect the cause of the disease.

11. Otipax

Otipax – ear drops that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The composition of the drops contains a combination of lidocaine and phenazone. The drug is intended for use in the external auditory canal. It is used for otitis even in children from birth.

Противопоказания: allergic reaction to the components of the preparations, violation of the integrity of the eardrum.

Advantages and disadvantages

proven drug, quickly reduces inflammation and pain, suitable for young children.
may cause irritation and redness at the site of application.
show more

12. Otinum

Otinum ear drops contain the active substance NVPS choline salicylate, which is a derivative of salicylic acid. The drug has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antifungal effects.

Противопоказания: intolerance to salicylic acid, children under 1 year of age, pregnancy and lactation, bronchial asthma with a reaction to NSAIDs.

Advantages and disadvantages

complex action, helps to quickly remove the inflammatory process.
not found.
show more

13. Dexamethasone-Betalek

Ear drops Dexamethasone-Betalec is a hormonal drug with dexamethasone in the composition, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. It is prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases of the ears. For fungal and bacterial infections, it is used together with other drugs, otherwise there will be no symptoms, and the cause will not disappear, and the inflammatory process will progress.

Противопоказания: pregnancy, lactation, children under 18 years of age.

Advantages and disadvantages

an effective anti-inflammatory agent, helps relieve itching and burning with allergies.
drops are useless for infectious otitis media.

14. Combinil – Duo

Drops Kombinil – Duo contain the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, as well as the glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone, which provides anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. Drops quickly help with symptoms of otitis media, relieve pain and irritation.

The drug is contraindicated in viral infections, during pregnancy and lactation, children under 1 year old.

Advantages and disadvantages

simultaneously with anti-inflammatory action inhibits the activity of bacteria.
quite a few side effects, including pain, itching, and ear congestion.

15. Garazon

Garazon ear drops contain the antibiotic gentamicin and betamethasone, therefore they have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and anti-allergic effects. The antibacterial component has a wide spectrum of action and is effective against most pathogens of otitis media.

Drops are contraindicated in perforation of the eardrum, children under 6 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.

Advantages and disadvantages

helps reduce inflammation, effectively fights bacterial infection.
local allergic reactions are possible – itching and burning.

How to choose ear drops

The pharmaceutical market offers customers a large selection of ear drops. All of them differ in active substances, price, manufacturer, appearance. Consider the basic rules for choosing drops for the ears2:

  1. It is important to know the cause of the disease and the drug to act on it.
  2. Anti-inflammatory drops (which contain only an anesthetic or glucocorticosteroid) do not treat the cause and lead to an erased picture of the inflammatory process3.
  3. Antibacterial drugs are only effective against bacteria.
  4. In the absence of a positive effect within 3 days, it is necessary to change the drug.

In order for the treatment to be correct, it is necessary to seek the advice of an ENT doctor. Self-medication can harm the body4, so the choice of effective ear drops is best left to a specialist.

Reviews of doctors about ear drops

Many experts speak positively about ear drops for the treatment of otitis media. For example, Candibiotic is a drug that contains 4 active ingredients, therefore it is able to cope with the infection, reduce the inflammatory process and improve the patient’s quality of life.2. Especially often this drug is prescribed for the treatment of otitis externa and otitis media.

Also among ENT doctors, Otipax ear drops are very popular, which have a pronounced analgesic effect, but are used mainly in the early stages of otitis.3.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed important issues related to the use of ear drops with ENT doctor Anna Makarova.

How to relieve ear pain at home?

– To relieve ear pain in the early stages, Otipax is suitable, as it contains lidocaine. It should be used on gauze (cotton) turunda. But in no case should liquid be instilled into the ear, since it is not known what is happening inside. Pain can be associated with both otitis externa and otitis media, or nerve inflammation (neuralgia).

An unconditional addition to Otipax are NSAIDs (for example, Nurofen or Ibuprofen) and a mandatory visit to the ENT doctor. If the otolaryngologist excludes pathology on his part, then you should contact a neurologist.

What to do if pus flows from the ear?

– Unfortunately, at home, with primary suppuration from the ear, there are no ways to help. Patients are urgently advised to contact an ENT doctor for diagnosis, since purulent otitis media is dangerous because of the consequences of intracranial complications.

If you were previously diagnosed with perforated otitis media (with a violation of the integrity of the tympanic membrane) and an exacerbation occurred, then Otofa or Normaks drops may be used. But taking into account the fact that you have ever used them and know that you will not be allergic to them.

Can you put alcohol in your ear?

– No, in no case, since there is a risk of burning the skin of the ear canal, and in the future this is fraught with a deterioration in the condition.

Sources of:

  1. Clinical recommendations “Fungal otitis”, 2016. http://glav-otolar.ru/assets/images/docs/clinical-recommendations/KR304%20Gribkovye%20otit.pdf
  2. Okovity S.V., Ivkin D.Yu., Malygin. S.V. // Drug therapy of otitis externa and otitis media // Journal “Bulletin of Otorhinolaryngology”// 2012. https://medi.ru/info/290/
  3. Svistushkin V.M., Sinkov E.V. // Otitis externa: from differential diagnosis to etiotropic therapy // MS. 2016. No. 18. https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/naruzhnyy-otit-ot-differentsialnoy-diagnostiki-k-etiotropnoy-terapii
  4. Kunitsky V. S. // The choice of topical drugs for inflammatory diseases of the middle ear // Bulletin of Pharmacy. 2006. No. 2 (32). https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/vybor-topicheskih-lekarstvennyh-sredstv-pri-vospalitelnyh-zabolevaniyah-srednego-uha

Leave a Reply