Angelica Bottaro is a writer with expertise in many aspects of health, including chronic diseases, Lyme disease, and nutrition as medicines and supplements. 

John Carew, MD, received the Board Certification of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and New York University Medical Center.

Various types of ear diseases require treatment, such as ear infections, bullous tympanitis (tympanic membrane infection), and eustachian tube dysfunction. In some cases, prescription ear drops or other types of medicine are required.

Over-the-counter (OTC) ear drops can be used to help relieve symptoms associated with these types of diseases, but there are no over-the-counter ear drops available to treat infections. In the case of other problems, such as wax buildup, OTC ear drops can be used as a possible form of treatment.

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Too much earwax can cause a variety of undesirable symptoms, including:

When the wax has accumulated enough to cause symptoms, it needs to be removed. It can be done with ear drops. OTC ear drops are water-based or oil-based. Ingredients commonly found in ear drops to remove ear wax include glycerin, mineral oil, and saline solution. These ear drops may also contain other substances, such as carbamide peroxide, baking soda, and acetic acid.

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

Although ear drops help remove accumulated earwax, they also have some disadvantages. For people with sensitive skin, ear drops can irritate the skin in and around the ear canal. Therefore, they should be used with caution or as directed.

Some popular OTC ear drops include Polysporin Plus Pain Relief Ear Drops, Biovea Ear Soothing Oil, Hyland's Earache Drops and Murine Ear Drops. If you are not sure which ear drops are right for you, be sure to read the instructions and ingredient list carefully, and consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Swimmer's ears, also called otitis externa, are an external ear infection that affects the ear canal. This condition is caused by water trapped in the ears, lack of protective earwax, and damage to the ear canal.

If the infection requires antibiotic treatment, people with swimming ear disease sometimes use prescription ear drops, but over-the-counter ear drops can be used to help dry their ears faster. This can help clear the infection.

Ingredients used in ear drops to help dry ears include isopropanol or glycerin. The alcohol in the ear drops works by combining with the water in the ear. Then the mixture of water and alcohol evaporates, drying the ears.

If symptoms continue or get worse after applying OTC ear drops to swimmers’ ears, consult your healthcare provider as a prescription may be required.

Correct use of ear drops requires you to lie on your side with the affected ear facing the ceiling. After dropping the potion, you will maintain this position for at least two minutes.

Anesthetic ear drops can help reduce pain and swelling caused by ear infections. However, they are generally not recommended because they cannot treat infections and other pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used.

According to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration, these types of ear drops can only be used after careful and thorough evaluation of the ingredients contained. This is because they have not been evaluated for their safety or effectiveness in the treatment of earache and swelling associated with various ear infections in daily use.

Ingredients that have been proven to cause adverse reactions include:

If you feel earache and think you may have an ear infection, the best way is to use an approved over-the-counter oral pain reliever and make an appointment with your primary care doctor or other healthcare provider for an examination.

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If you have or suspect that you have a ruptured tympanic membrane, you should avoid ear drops altogether. This is because if there is a hole or a channel in the tympanic membrane, chemicals can enter the middle ear and cause damage.

If your eardrum ruptures, some of the symptoms you may notice include:

If you think your eardrums may rupture, consult your healthcare provider and avoid using any over-the-counter ear drops.

OTC ear drops may help relieve some of the symptoms of various ear infections, but they will not treat the infection itself. To properly treat ear infections, you must see your healthcare provider. They will help determine the cause of the infection and its severity, and prescribe appropriate anti-fungal or anti-bacterial ear drops.

Ear drops can help treat a variety of health problems that affect the ears. They are generally safe and effective, but if you suspect that your eardrum is ruptured, you should not use ear drops. In this case, please consult your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.

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