Antibiotics for Ear Infections

antibiotics history graphic

Antibiotics are the first-line therapy for the treatment of ear infections. Ear infections, or as they are also called otitis – are the second most common group of diseases after cold, which affects children. Only in the USA, according to the most conservative estimates, more than 25 million visits to physicians are registered because of the otitis every year.

Ear infections may be external, middle and inner. Otitis externa is an inflammation of the ear or ear canal, which occurs due to careless ears cleaning, water ingress, etc. Otitis externa is often accompanied by swelling and acute pain.

Otitis media occurs, when an infection penetrates the middle ear. During the course of the disease, the middle ear secretes a fluid that causes ringing in the ears, severe throbbing pain, and sometimes to eardrum damage.

Internal otitis, or Labyrinthitis is the most serious of all ear infections. The internal otitis may cause partial or complete loss of hearing and balance disorders.

You should buy antibiotics for ear infections, if you observe the following symptoms:

  • fever;
  • temporary loss of hearing;
  • fluid exudation from the ear;
  • ringing in the ears, dizziness;
  • feeling of fullness in the ears;
  • itching, redness, swelling or pain in the ear.

Types of antibiotics for ear infections

Four groups of antibiotics may be used for the treatment of ear infections:

  • Penicillins – Amoxicillin;
  • Macrolides – Azithromycin;
  • Fluoroquinolones – Ciprofloxacin;
  • Cephalosporins – Cephalexin, Cefdinir;

In addition to the four main groups, antibiotics of Tetracyclines group (Doxycyclin) and Lincosamides (Clindamycin) may also be used for treatment of ear infections.

Depending on the group, all antibiotics for the otitis treatment have varying degrees of efficacy, dosage, pharmaceutical form and method of application. Antibiotics of each group have their own peculiarities in getting rid of one or another ear infection.

In the USA, you may buy antibiotics of all groups to treat ear infections. Restrictions on the sale of drugs act in the USA, like in many other countries. Buying the appropriate antibiotic at a usual might be difficult. Therefore, the best option for many people is to buy antibiotics online to treat ear infections.

Antibiotics for ear infections in babies and toddlers

Antibiotics are usually effective in the treatment of otitis media in children. Otitis media is the most common in children and adolescents, due to the structure of their ear canal. Typical symptoms of otitis media in children are loss of appetite, fever and pain in the ear.

Antibiotics for the otitis treatment are mandatory appointed to children aged from 3 to 6 months. In this age, it is difficult to determine, what caused the pain in the ear. Painkillers are prescribed to children aged six months to two years in the first 2 days of the otitis symptoms manifestations. Antibiotics are used, if the pain persists for a period of 2 days.

Suspension, called Augmentin (Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid), is suitable for children under the age of 12 years for the treatment of otitis media. Children older than 12 years may take Augmentin tablets. The otitis media symptoms usually disappear within 2 weeks after the drug application. Ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablets during a 7-day period are also suitable for the treatment of otitis in children.

Antibiotics for ear infections in adults

If otitis media is characteristic for children, external and internal ear infections are most commonly seen in adults. Cephalexin is considered one of the most effective antibiotics in the treatment of otitis. The severity of the main otitis media symptoms, like pain, inflammation and itching, reduce already on the second day of the antibiotic administration.

Amoxicillin is effective against highly resistant bacteria that cause ear infections. The antibiotic from Penicillins class relieves the basic symptoms of otitis in 7-10 days.

Zithromax is suitable for those, who are experiencing an acute allergy to penicillin. It is an Azithromycin-based drug. The dose of Zithromax 500 mg per day, divided into two doses, is enough to get rid of ear infections symptoms within 3-5 days.

Ciprofloxacin is the most prescribed antibiotic in the treatment of acute inflammatory forms of internal otitis. Ciprofloxacin of 500 mg taken just for a week relieves the symptoms of otitis media.

Cephalexin is suitable for the treatment of acute and chronic forms of external otitis, when pus appears at the inflammation site. To get rid of ear infections, patients should take 250-500 mg of Cephalexin per day, divided into 2 or 4 doses.

You will need a total of 5-10 days to get rid of the main otitis media symptoms with Cefdinir. This antibiotic, just like Cephalexin, belong to the Cephalosporins group. Cefdinir should be taken at a dose of 600 mg once a day (or 300 mg twice a day).

Where to buy antibiotics for ear infections?

You may buy antibiotics to treat ear infections in regular pharmacies, as well. However, many patients prefer to buy antibiotics online. In the USA, there are several advantages to this:

  • a huge number of online pharmacies, where you can find the required antibiotic;
  • many online pharmacies offer free shipping on the USA territory;
  • antibiotics purchase is carried out under the conditions of complete anonymity;
  • buying antibiotics online does not require a doctor’s prescription;
  • online pharmacies usually offer bonuses and discounts, when buying antibiotics.