It is very important to make sure the drops reach all the way down to the eardrum. Lie on your side (or tilt) for 5 minutes then drain the drops out on a tissue for another 5 minutes to allow the entire canal to be coated. Wipe away excess and repeat with second ear if needed.
Continue to lie on your side for a couple minutes to allow the drops to reach the eardrum at the base of the ear canal. Sit up and let any excess drops drain out.
Place the recommended number of drops into your ear canal. Massage your tragus (the little piece of tissue that sits just in front of your ear canal). This encourages the drops down your ear canal. Lie on your side for a few minutes.
Rest with your head on two or more pillows, so your affected ear is higher than the rest of your body. Or if your left ear has an infection, sleep on your right side. Less pressure equals less ear pain.
If both eardrums are ruptured, then back sleeping may be the most comfortable position until the ears heal. People who feel a lot of pressure in their ears might also consider sleeping upright or on multiple pillows.
A temporary mild bubbling sensation in the ear can occur (due to the release of oxygen as the drops break down the ear wax). The ear drops can make the symptoms of excessive ear wax worse, including some discomfort, irritation or pain, loss of hearing, dizziness and tinnitus (ringing sound in the ear).
Sometimes the ear canal can get so swollen that ear drops won't go all the way into the canal. In these cases, an ear “wick” is placed in the canal to facilitate the drops getting to the infection. Occasionally oral steroids might be used if the swelling is severe or if the swelling extends past the ear canal.
If you are using the eardrops for a middle ear infection—Drop the medicine into the ear canal. Then, gently press the tragus of the ear (see the diagram in the Medication Guide) four times in a pumping motion. This will allow the drops to pass through the hole or tube in the eardrum and into the middle ear.
After giving ear drops
Ask your child to remain lying down for a couple minutes to help the medicine reach the deepest part of the ear canal and be absorbed. Gently rub the skin in front of the ear or move the ear to help the drops flow to the inside of the ear.
Once I start using the eardrops how long should it take until I feel better? Most people feel better within 48 to 72 hours and have minimal or no symptoms by 7 days. Notify your doctor if your pain or other symptoms fail to respond within this time frame.
Do not let the tip of the bottle touch any part of your ear. You may need somebody to help you with this. Stay with your head tilted to the side for at least a couple of minutes to allow the drops to spread right into the ear canal and reduce the likelihood of the drops leaking out of the ear.
Some people develop an allergy or sensitivity to the ear drops used for otitis externa. You can be allergic to the antibiotic or to the preservative. The itch and discharge may then become worse when you use the drops, rather than better.
Allergies, head colds, pregnancy, and air pressure are some common reasons it may feel like your ears are full. Typically, plugged ears settle after a few days. Decongestants and nasal sprays are the best treatment for plugged ears that allergies and head colds cause.
It is very important to make sure the drops reach all the way down to the eardrum. Lie on your side (or tilt) for 5 minutes then drain the drops out on a tissue for another 5 minutes to allow the entire canal to be coated. Wipe away excess and repeat with second ear if needed.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
When too much earwax builds up (gets impacted), it can cause symptoms such as temporary hearing loss. It is more common in older adults. Certain health conditions make it more likely to have impacted earwax. You might need special drops to help remove your earwax.
Ear drops:
Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.
Two nightly applications of WAXSOL should sufficiently loosen the hardened ear wax, making it easier to come out. If you are continuing to experience a blockage, feel pain or notice a discharge coming from the ear canal, it is recommended that you contact your doctor.
Stay Dry
While you're treating swimmer's ear, keep your ear as dry as possible for about 7 to 10 days. Take baths rather than showers and avoid swimming or playing water sports. A large cotton ball with petroleum jelly on it can be placed into the outer ear area to avoid getting water in the ear while bathing.
Steam from a humidifier, shower, or bath can have the same effect as a warm compress. It helps to open and relax airways, thus reducing ear pressure and easing pain.
Keep water out of your ears until the infection is completely gone. Take baths instead of showers. If you need to wash your hair several times a week, consider washing your hair in a sink instead of in the shower. Don't out anything in your ears, including Q-tips, that should not be inserted into the ear canal.
Outer Ear Infections
When the ear starts to hurt or feels blocked, typically you may try to clean the ear with cotton swabs (Q-tips) or irrigate it with solutions like hydrogen peroxide. Unfortunately, this tends to make the issue worse. As the swelling in the ear canal worsens, the pain may become severe.