Over-the-Counter Ear Drops: Types and Functions (2024)

Over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops can be a helpful remedy when treating a number of ear conditions. The ear drops can be used to help relieve symptoms associated with issues like earwax buildup.

With ear infections, however, your healthcare provider may treat you with prescription ear drops, or other types of medications. Antibiotic and steroid drops are examples used in bullous myringitis (infection of the eardrum).

This article discusses how OTC ear drops may be used to treat ear conditions, as well as situations like eustachian tube (auditory tube) dysfunction that also may require prescription medication. It presents symptoms common to each condition, to help you better understand when you may need to contact your provider for treatment.

Earwax Removal Drops

Excess buildup of earwax can lead to a variety of unwanted symptoms, including:

• Fullness in the ear
• Ear pain
• Hearing loss
• Ear ringing (tinnitus)
• Itchiness inside the ear
• Dizziness
• Ear infections

An ear odor, or discharge from the ear, also may occur. When the wax builds up enough to cause symptoms, removal is required. It can be done using ear drops.

OTC ear drops are either water- or oil-based. Ingredients typically found in earwax removal eardrops include glycerin, mineral oil, and saline solutions. These ear drops may also contain other substances, such as carbamide peroxide, baking soda, and acetic acid.

How Ear Drops Work for Earwax

All ear drops are designed to break down and dissolve the earwax buildup that is causing issues. The different substances used in the drops work in different ways:

• 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 once it becomes soft enough.
• Glycerin: Glycerin is used to soften the wax that has built up in the ears. This helps to clear any blockage or buildup, as the wax can then clear out on its own.
• 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 the 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 is what dissolves the earwax.
• Acetic acid: Acetic acid is found in water-based ear drops and helps dissolve the 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 irritation of the skin in and around the ear canal. Therefore, they should be used sparingly and only as directed.

Fluid Drying (Swimmer’s Ear) Drops

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.

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 used by people with swimmer’s ear if the infection requires antibiotic treatment, but OTC ear drops may be used to help dry out the ears quicker. This can help clear up the infection.

The ingredients used in ear drops that help dry out the ears include isopropyl alcohol or glycerin. The alcohol in the ear drops works by combining itself with the water in the ear. The water-alcohol combination then evaporates, drying out the ear.

If 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.

Anesthetic (Numbing) Ear Drops

Anesthetic ear drops can help alleviate pain and swelling caused by ear infections. They aren’t often recommended, though, because they do not treat the infection, and other OTC pain relievers can be used such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen).

According to the Food and Drug Administration, 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 evaluated for safety or efficacy for everyday use for ear pain and swelling associated with various 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

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.

When Not to Use Ear Drops

If you have or suspect you have a ruptured eardrum, you should avoid using ear drops completely. This is because if there is a hole or a way through the eardrum, chemicals can make their way into the middle ear and cause harm.

A few symptoms you may notice if you have a ruptured eardrum include:

• Hearing loss
• Ringing in the ears
• Ear pain
• Ear drainage
• Vertigo

If you think you may have a ruptured eardrum, see your healthcare provider and refrain from using any over-the-counter 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 use the drops for at least seven days. Notify your provider if you still have symptoms after a week.

Seek care immediately if you experience:

• High fever
• Severe pain behind your ear
• Facial paralysis

Other symptoms that require immediate attention include hives (which can suggest an allergic response), difficulty breathing, and dizziness.

Summary

Over-the-counter drops can help treat several health issues affecting the ear. They are generally safe and effective, though not all drops are helpful in all cases. Anesthetic ear drops, for example, may not offer pain relief as well as common oral OTC medications do.

You may need to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. Your provider can offer prescription ear drops used for infections or other antibiotic or steroid medications if necessary.