How Do You Clear Up an Ear Infection?

Ear infection treatments and home remedies include drinking fluids, rest, warm compresses, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, anti-allergy medications, prescription medications, and oral antibiotics.

Ear infections are categorized based on where in the ear the infection occurs. 

• Ear canal (otitis externa, also called “swimmer’s ear”)
• Middle ear (otitis media)
• Eardrum

Mild symptoms of ear infections that affect the outer or middle ear that are mild usually clear up within one to two weeks and may go away on their own.

• Inner ear infections can last longer. Ear infections lasting 6 weeks or longer are considered chronic ear infections. 
• See a doctor to determine whether an ear infection needs to be treated.

11 Ear Infection Treatments & Home Remedies

Medications such as antibiotics might not be needed for a middle ear infection and a doctor may recommend waiting to see if the infection clears up on its own. Home remedies to clear up symptoms of an ear infection include: 

• Drinking fluids
• Rest
• Applying warm compresses to the ear to help relieve pain
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications 
  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain
  • Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) to ease ear pressure 
  • Anti-allergy medications 
  • Over-the-counter ear drops for pain relief
    • Consult a doctor before using over-the-counter eardrops 
    • Eardrops should not be used in children with tympanostomy tubes (ear tubes) unless prescribed by the child’s pediatrician

Prescription medications used to treat ear infections include: 

• For infections of the ear canal (otitis externa)
  • Hydrocortisone (Cortisporin, Otocort, Poly Otic)
  • Neomycin (Ak-Spore HC, Cortisporin, Neotricin HC, Ocutricin-HC), 
  • Polymyxin B
• For infections of the middle ear (otitis media) and severe infections of the outer ear
  • Oral antibiotics