Over-the-Counter Ear Drops for Ear Infections and More
Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MDFact checked by Nick BlackmerMedically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MDFact checked by Nick Blackmer
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 of earwax buildup.
With ear 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 like bullous myringitis (infection of the eardrum). If OTC ear drops don't help you, another condition such as eustachian tube (auditory tube) dysfunction may be the cause of your symptoms.
Illustration by Jiaqi Zhou for Verywell Health
Ear Infection Pain Relief
Ear drops can help alleviate pain and swelling caused by ear infections. They typically contain an anesthetic such as lidocaine hydrochloride, found in the Polysporin Plus brand. Self-treatment with OTC drops generally isn't recommended, though, because they do not treat the infection itself, and other OTC pain relievers can be used, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).
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 for ear pain and swelling due to ear infections.
Ingredients that have been shown to cause adverse reactions include:
Benzocaine
Benzocaine and antipyrine
Benzocaine, antipyrine, and zinc acetate
Benzocaine, chloroxylenol, and hydrocortisone
Chloroxylenol and pramoxine
Chloroxylenol, pramoxine, and hydrocortisone
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 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 Drops
Biovea Ear Soothing Oil
Hyland’s Earache Drops
Murine Ear Drops
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
Swimmer’s ear, also known as otitis externa, is an outer ear infection that affects the ear canal. The condition is caused by water that gets trapped in the ear, a lack of protective earwax, and injury to the ear canal.
Swimmer's ear drops contain 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:
Pain in the ear that worsens if the ear is tugged or pressed on
Swollen glands in the neck
An itchy ear canal
Pus coming from the ear that is yellow or yellow-green, and may have an odor
Blocked ear
Redness in the outer ear
Hearing loss or a decrease in hearing
Slight fever
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 Drops
Using ear drops properly will 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.
Earwax Removal
OTC ear drops are either water- or oil-based. Earwax removal drops can help soften and dissolve earwax with ingredients including the following:
Mineral oil: Some OTC ear drops contain various types of mineral oil. Mineral oil softens hard and dry wax, which allows the wax to be cleared out of the ear on its own.
Glycerin: Glycerin is used to soften wax that has built up in the ears. This helps to clear any blockage or buildup.
Carbamide peroxide: Carbamide peroxide releases oxygen in the ear. The oxygen that’s released causes foaming within the ear. The foam softens, loosens, and helps remove excess buildup of wax.
Saline solution: Saline solution helps soften the wax that has become hard.
Baking soda: Since baking soda is an alkaline (high on the pH scale) substance, it can help clear out earwax by dissolving it. It can do this because the earwax is acidic. The chemical reaction that occurs between baking soda and earwax dissolves the earwax.
Acetic acid: Acetic acid is found in water-based ear drops and helps dissolve earwax buildup.
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 peroxide is a home remedy that can help soften ear wax, but it's not safe for those with ear pain, tubes, or a perforated eardrum.
When Not to Use Ear Drops
In some situations, you should avoid using OTC ear drops. These include:
Ruptured eardrum: If there is a hole or a way through the eardrum, ear drop chemicals can make their way into the middle ear and cause harm. Symptoms of a ruptured eardrum can include ear pain, hearing loss, ear drainage, and vertigo. See your healthcare provider, as an infected eardrum (bullous myringitis) will require treatment.
Tinnitus: There are ear drops for tinnitus, but there is very little scientific research to back up their effectiveness. At best, they have provided users with a short-term placebo effect. If tinnitus is caused by earwax blockage, you can use over-the-counter ear drops for wax removal.
Seborrheic dermatitis: If you feel your ear canal itching and flaking, it may be seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory skin condition. Specific OTC medicated shampoos are used to treat this condition instead of ear drops.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
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.
Your provider can diagnose and treat your condition, often by using prescription ear drops. With swimmer's ear, for example, most people will feel better in about three days but should continue to use the drops for at least seven days. Notify your provider if you still have symptoms after a week.
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:
Severe pain behind your ear
Other symptoms that require immediate attention include hives (which can suggest an allergic reaction), difficulty breathing, and dizziness.
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.
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