Over-the-counter medicines for ear pain in pharmacies
Ear pain, earache and otalgia
- There are many conditions that can cause ear pain: otitis, colds, sinus or throat infections, damage to the ear canal or dental abscesses.
- Otalgia is localized pain in the ear. Diseases of the ear involve three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. This condition, which affects hearing, often results in otitis.
- Otitis is an inflammation of the ear. It often results from a cold or pharyngitis. Symptoms of otitis often include a sensation of ablocked ear, fever and varying degrees of pain. In the case of otitis externa, the doctor may also prescribe ear drops with a local anesthetic to relieve the pain.
- As with children, ear infections and localized pain in the ear always warrant a medical consultation to determine the cause and appropriate treatment by otoscopy.
How to relieve your earache?
First of all, it's important to determine the cause of your ear pain, otherwise known as otalgia.
- Determine the cause of the earache (cold, throat, teeth, etc.) and the type of otitis.
- Take the right medication to treat ear pain (as prescribed by your doctor), and unclog the ear if necessary.
- Maintain good ear hygiene
Otitis and ear pain: which medication for ear pain?
In most cases, ear pain is caused by otitis, i.e. inflammation or infection of the ear. More rarely, the pain may be caused by a sinus infection or a sore throat.
Ears: how to recognize and treat each type of otitis?
Order your over-the-counter ear pain medication from your ARS-approved online organic pharmacy. To relieve the symptoms of otitis, whether internal, external or moderate, we recommend taking painkillers. Generally, your doctor or ENT specialist will prescribe paracetamol oribuprofen up to 4 grams a day. It's also advisable to take an anti-inflammatory for painful ears (Advil or Nurofen), up to 1200 mg a day .
Otitis media
- Acute otitis media: Acute otitis media is a bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear, usually accompanying an upper respiratory tract infection. Acute otitis media (AOM) is characterized by a purulent effusion in the tympanic fundus. Paracetamol is the drug often recommended to treat the pain of acute otitis.
- Serous otitis media: Serous otitis media is a chronic inflammation of the middle ear, with the presence of fluid behind the eardrum. Serous otitis results from incomplete healing of acute otitis or obstruction of the eustachian tube without infection. Depending on the doctor's recommendations, decongestants such as phenylephrine can be taken (older children and adults) to reduce nasal congestion. People withserous otitis should avoid scuba diving or air travel. Changes in environmental pressure can cause pain and injury to the ear.
- Chronic otitis media: Inflammation of the mucous membrane persists for more than 3 months.Chronic otitis results from several infectious episodes and is often characterized by perforation of the eardrum or otorrhea. If the eardrum has been perforated, it is advisable to protect the ears from water. In the case of chronic otitis media suppurativa (OMCS), doctors prescribe ear drops with an antibiotic. It is dangerous to put anything in the ears if the eardrum is perforated. You need to wait for a doctor's consultation before putting in an ear solution like Otipax Ear Instillation Solution, available at the best price in our online pharmacy.
Internal otitis or labyrinthitis
Inner otitis is the result of acute otitis media, which progresses unfavorably. Treatment must be adapted to the type of otitis media diagnosed.
- Bacterial otitis interna should be treated with antibiotics, sometimes combined with surgery, to evacuate excess pus from the inner ear.
- Viral otitis interna is treated with antivirals specific to the cause of the infection (different for flu, chickenpox or shingles).
- Inflammatory otitis interna is treated with anti-inflammatories or cortisone derivatives.
Otitis externa
Otitis externa is an infection of the skin of the external ear canal, sometimes purulent. Otitis externa is a pathology encountered mainly in summer, as it is favored by heat and humidity. This ear pain mainly affects young children, who have a narrower external canal. BloXoto is a medical device that can be prescribed in cases of otitis externa, discomfort or pain in the external auditory canal. Its action relieves and soothes itching in the ear.
Your pharmacist's advice on cleaning and protecting your ears
In addition to taking analgesics for ear pain, it's also important to clean your ears properly every day.
- For example, you can use ear devices to disinfect and soothe ear pain immediately.
- Reduce ear pressure by staying indoors and sitting down, for example.
- Use quiescent ear protection to protect your ears from external aggression
- Use an ear cleaner to clean your ears without damaging the ear canal.
Good to know: More serious manifestations of ear pain require the intervention of an ENT doctor, who can make a full diagnosis. Find out more about natural herbal treatments for earache on our blog.
You can also discover our liquid essential oil preparation for treating otitis, on sale in our online pharmacy.
How to relieve otitis and soothe ear pain before a doctor's appointment?
While waiting for a doctor's appointment for an ear infection, you can administer several homeopathic remedies to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Here are some recommended treatments for different symptoms and situations:
- Sudden fever and ear congestion: Belladonna 9 CH, Ferrum phosphoricum 9 CH and Capsicum annuum 9 CH can be taken alternating 3 granules of each every hour.
- Suppuration: Add Arsenicum album 9 CH, Pyorogenium 9 CH and Mercurius solubilis 9 CH, 3 granules three times a day.
- Acute otitis media: Belladonna and Arsenicum album 9 CH are recommended as painkillers and anti-inflammatories, to be taken as 5 granules 2 to 3 times a day.
- To accompany antibiotics: Combine 5 granules of Mercurius, Hepar sulfur, Capsicum 9 CH or Pyrogenium several times a day.
Depending on specific symptoms, other homeopathic remedies may be used:
- Arsenicum album 9 CH: if heat soothes the pain.
- Belladonna 9 CH: to relieve pulsatile pain.
- Capsicum annuum 5 CH: if the pain is difficult to determine.
- Chamomilla vulgaris 15 CH: to alleviate unbearable pain.
- Ferrum phosphoricum 9 CH: if fever is moderate (38-38.5°C), take 4 times in 24 hours.
No medicines will be delivered outside France. Only available for collection from the pharmacy in Perpignan (France).
What cold treatments are available on Soin-et-Nature?
Soin-et-Nature, your specialist online pharmacy, offers a wide selection of cold and respiratory treatments. Our medicines target winter symptoms, allergies and ENT disorders.
Order your over-the-counter treatments from Soin-et-Nature, your trusted pharmacy, and benefit from fast delivery to combat cold symptoms.
