{"id":3304,"date":"2023-03-24T20:28:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T00:28:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/?p=3304"},"modified":"2023-03-24T20:28:56","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T00:28:56","slug":"how-to-use-ear-drops-correctly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/how-to-use-ear-drops-correctly\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Use Ear Drops Correctly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ear drops are an effective medication to treat a variety of common ailments. They are available both over the counter or through a prescription at places like Fort Wayne Custom Rx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at some common types of ear drops, the conditions they treat as well as how to use them safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Conditions that Ear Drops Can Treat <\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1205\" height=\"871\" src=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iStock-957140644.jpg\" alt=\"Woman using ear drops.\" class=\"wp-image-3307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iStock-957140644.jpg 1205w, https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iStock-957140644-768x555.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1205px) 100vw, 1205px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Ear drops are used to treat common ear problems, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ear pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Middle <a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/ear-infection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ear infections<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Earwax buildup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swimmer\u2019s ear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of ear drops you use will depend on what exactly you are treating. Some examples of what different drops can do include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Acid-based detergents break up earwax<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alcohol and acetic acid solutions are used to prevent swimmer\u2019s ear. However, research has shown that \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC274056\/\">corticosteroids are more effective than acetic acid ear drops<\/a> in the treatment\u201d of swimmer\u2019s ear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Anesthetics are used for ear pain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2>How To Administer Ear Drops<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the instructions before using any ear drops to make sure you know the proper dosage and don\u2019t have any additional questions for your pharmacist or medical provider. It\u2019s also a good idea to wash your hands before use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To administer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Fold a towel and lay it on a kitchen or bathroom counter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lay your head on the towel with the affected ear facing up<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gently pull your earlobe out and up to straighten the ear canal<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Squeeze the recommended number of drops into the ear<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep your head down for a minute so the medication can fully reach and coat the ear canal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If both ears are affected, repeat the same process with the other ear. If you need to administer ear drops to a child, follow the same steps for them, ideally with one adult to keep the child still and the other to put the ear drops in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Are Ear Drops Safe For Everyone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While ear drops are typically quite safe, there are some circumstances where you should avoid using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>If you have a ruptured eardrum. <\/strong>Do not use ear drops for a<a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/eardrum-perforation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> ruptured eardrum<\/a> unless explicitly instructed to by your doctor. It can allow chemicals into the middle ear, causing damage. If you think you have a ruptured eardrum, visit your healthcare provider before attempting any at-home treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If you\u2019re allergic.<\/strong> If you\u2019re allergic to a substance found in a particular eardrop, do not use it. Doing so could cause symptoms like burning, itching, redness and a rash around the ear. In rare cases, it could even lead to a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing ear symptoms that are causing you discomfort or distress, call <span class=\"company-name \">Ear, Nose &amp; Throat Associates<\/span> today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/why-do-i-keep-getting-ear-infections-as-an-adult\/\" class=\"related-post\">Why Do I Keep Getting Ear Infections as an Adult?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/best-practices-for-ear-hygiene\/\" class=\"related-post\">Best Practices for Ear Hygiene<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/when-to-consult-an-ent-for-your-vertigo\/\" class=\"related-post\">When To Consult An Ent For Your Vertigo<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ear drops are an effective medication to treat a variety of common ailments. They are available both over the counter or through a prescription at places like Fort Wayne Custom Rx. Let\u2019s take a look at some common types of ear drops, the conditions they treat as well as how to use them safely. Conditions&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3304"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3304"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3304\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3309,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3304\/revisions\/3309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3307"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3304"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3304"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3304"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}