How can I treat an earache?
Treatment depends on what may be causing the earache. If the earache is due to an infection,
there are no over-the-counter products available to treat an ear infection. You should contact
your physician for the appropriate antibiotic. In the meantime, an over-the-counter
anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®)
will help reduce the pain until you can speak with your physician.
If the earache is due to water in your ear from swimming, etc., there are over-the-counter ear
drops available that may help the ear dry out quicker. One common product name is Swim-Ear®, another is Auro-Dri®.
Another possibility is that a wax build-up is causing the pain. This is best diagnosed and
removed by your doctor. Finally, we would recommend that any persistent inner-ear discomfort be
diagnosed by your physician to obtain the necessary treatment as quickly as possible.
If you're looking for more specific answers to specific questions, ask a Walgreens pharmacist here.
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