Table 3. Common Topical Otic Preparations Approved by the
Food and Drug Administration for Treating Diffuse AOE
Active Drugs(s) Name
Bottle
Size, mL
Cost, US$
a
Trade Generic
Acetic acid 2.0% solution Acetic acid otic (generic) 15.0 — 33
Acetic acid 2.0%,
hydrocortisone 1.0%
Acetasol HC (generic) 10.0 — 23
Ciprofloxacin 0.2%,
hydrocortisone 1.0%
Cipro HC
®
(trade)
10.0 170 —
Ciprofloxacin 0.3%,
dexamethasone 0.1%
Ciprodex
®
(trade)
7.5 144 —
Neomycin, polymyxin B,
hydrocortisone
Cortisporin Otic
®
(trade)
10.0 85 30
Ofloxacin 0.3%
Floxin Otic
®
(trade)
5.0 76 18
a
Approximate price in New York metropolitan region (http://www.goodrx.com).
Table 4. Instructions for Patients
• If possible, get someone to put the drops in the ear canal for you.
• Lie down with the affected ear up. Put enough drops in the ear canal to fill it up.
• Once the drops are in place, stay in this position for 3-5 minutes. Use a timer to help
measure the time. It is important to allow adequate time for the drops to penetrate into
the ear canal.
• A gentle to-and-fro movement of the ear will sometimes help in getting the drops to their
intended destination. An alternative method is to press with an in/out movement on the
small piece of cartilage (tragus) in front of the ear.
• You may then get up and resume your normal activities. Wipe off any excess drops.
• Keeping the ear dry is generally a good idea while using eardrops.
• Try not to clean the ear yourself as the ear is very tender and you could damage the ear
canal or even the eardrum.
• If the drops do not easily run into the ear canal, you may need to have the ear canal
cleaned by your clinician or have a wick placed in the ear canal to help in getting the
drops into the ear canal.
• If you do have a wick placed, it may fall out on its own. This is a good sign. It means the
inflammation is clearing and the infection subsiding.
• Do not remove the wick yourself unless instructed to do so.
