Your guide to treatments for ear pain

Ear pain can be very uncomfortable, but many treatments are available. But before treating ear pain, it’s important to determine the cause.

Infections with viruses, bacteria, or fungi are common causes of ear pain. These commonly affect the otitis media (middle ear) or the otitis externa (outer ear canal). You might also notice cold or flu viruses and sinus infections can affect your ears, causing earache.

Some other potential causes of ear pain include:

• changes in pressure, like when you’re on a plane
• problems with your eustachian tube
• injury to your ear canal
• foreign objects in your ear
• a buildup of earwax

These different causes may need different treatments. Some can be managed with OTC treatments and self-care strategies, while others may require prescription medications.

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Prescription treatments for ear pain

Otitis media and otitis externa are the two most common ear infections. They’re due to viral, bacterial, or even fungal infections. Sometimes, these infections can go away on their own. However, healthcare professionals usually recommend treatment if it lasts longer than 2 to 3 days.

The main treatment for bacterial ear infections is antibiotics. Otitis externa, also known as swimmer’s ear, is successfully treated with topical antibiotics in the form of ear drops. These include:

• 3 to 4 drops of polymyxin B, neomycin, and hydrocortisone four times per day
• 5 drops of ofloxacin twice per day
• 3 drops of ciprofloxacin (Cetraxal) twice per day

Because otitis media affects a deeper part of your ear, doctors usually use systemic antibiotics that you take in tablet or liquid form, as topical antibiotics are less likely to reach the infection.

The first-line antibiotic for otitis media in both children and adults is high dose amoxicillin (Amoxil) for 10 days. If amoxicillin isn’t effective, doctors might try amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin).

You can also use antibiotics to manage other conditions that cause ear pain if the cause is bacterial. These include sinus infections and tooth infections.

If your ear infection is due to a fungal infection, most common in otitis externa, doctors might prescribe topical antifungal medications. Examples include:

• clotrimazole
• fluconazole
• ketoconazole

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OTC treatments for ear pain

Many cases of ear pain aren’t due to bacterial infections so don’t require antibiotics. Viral infections often go away on their own with time, but doctors will likely recommend using OTC medications to manage symptoms.

You can take OTC pain relievers to help relieve earache. Examples include:

• ibuprofen (Advil)
• naproxen (Aleve)
• acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Other OTC medications may manage the underlying condition causing earache. For example, sinusitis may cause pain that radiates to your ears. Oral decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can help open your sinuses, and antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can help if allergies are causing sinus swelling.

Home remedies

If antibiotics can’t treat your earache or if you want to help relieve symptoms sooner, you can try some home remedies. For example, you can try applying a warm compress, like a heating pad or a damp washcloth, to your ear to help relieve pain. Cool compresses may have a similar effect.

If your ear pain is due to a foreign body in the ear, you can use first aid methods to remove it. You can ask someone to use tweezers to remove the foreign body. It’s best to speak with a professional to avoid further injury.

Some natural remedies may also help, but more research is necessary. Always ask a doctor before trying any natural remedies. Two of the most common include:

• Olive oil ear drops: Olive oil has some antibacterial effects, so some people believe this may help manage ear infections. You can try putting small drops into your ears to see whether it helps with an infection. Consider speaking with a doctor before trying this method.
• Garlic: Garlic may have some anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. You can crush some garlic in oil and apply the oil to your ear to help manage an infection.

Note that you should not use these remedies if you have a perforated eardrum.

Online care for swimmer’s ear

If your ear pain doesn’t go away after a few days, causes very severe symptoms, or seems to get better and then worsen, this usually signals that it’s time to seek treatment. Swimmer’s ear is a specific infection of the outer ear that’s common in people who spend time swimming. Online care may be a good option to manage this condition.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

If your ear pain doesn’t improve with time, consider making an in-person appointment for a more in-depth examination.

Summary

Ear pain is very common, and it might be due to an infection, injury, or a foreign body in the ear. There are different ways to help treat earache.

Many ear infections are bacterial. If this is the case, doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics. For outer ear infections, topical antibiotic ear drops can be effective. For deeper middle ear infections, you will need to take systemic antibiotics.

You can also use OTC medications, particularly pain relievers, to help manage ear pain from a variety of causes. You can also try warm or cool compresses at home.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.