About 8 or 9 months ago, I was recovering from a cold. I woke up in the middle of the night with a terribly painful earache. Something I never had before. It was so bad, I went to the hospital. The Dr prescribed me some Cipro antibiotic eardrops. They did the trick.
Well, I’m getting over a cold again. And guess what? I woke up this morning with an earache. Should I just take the remainder of the eardrops (I would say the bottle is about 2/3 full) or should I go back to the Dr again? My family physician usually has about a week waiting list to see him, and I really hate having to go to the hospital for something like this.
I have had ear infections before, and when they returned, we usually just called the Dr. office and they approved usage of the drops over the phone. The one time I had run out of drops, they were kind enough to call in another prescription to my pharmacy. YMMV, and I feel your pain!!
Check the use-by date.
Your doc MAY authorise use over the phone, but theoretically it would be good clinical practice to look at your ear, and at least ensure that the eardrum isn’t perforated and that there isn’t a large collection of pus behind it.
And this time, if you get a prescription for an antibiotic, FINISH THE WHOLE PRESCRIPTION, EVEN IF YOU FEEL BETTER!!
Sorry to yell, but: If you start an antibiotic and don’t finish it, you have killed off the weaker germs and left the strongest ones to multiply. If you were on Cipro, your doctor presumably determined that you had some fairly tough guys in there already, or a milder antibiotic would have been used. The fact that you only used about 1/3 of what was prescribed could have something to do with the recurrence of the problem.
Suggestion: Call the M.D.'s office, tell them you are in acute pain. If they can’t see you for a week (!!) ask them if they can suggest someone else who can. I don’t know where you are (if you were really where your discriptions says you are, then you would not be needing any doctors), but in some places there are walk-in places called something like “Med-Emerge” that will take people without an appointment for acute care.
My condolences on the earache, though. IMHO that kind of pain is one of the very worst you can get, especially since it is constant.
MLS, are eardrops really prescribed that way, so that the exact amount is given out? I know the pills are, but drops aren’t as exact in dosage or in dispensation. I would think they would give you a certain number of days to use the drops, and give you extra.
Well, I could be wrong, but AFAIK an antibiotic is an antibiotic. It’s another good reason to call the doctor. Actually, I’m surprised at Cipro being given as a topical antibiotic. Ear infections are usually caused by something behind the eardrum, and drops would just hang out there on the surface of it, wouldn’t they? I have heard of drops that are basically anaesthetics being used to ease the pain until the penicillin (or whatever) has started to work, and obviously in that case you don’t take them longer than you have to.
Cipro, as you probably know, is the stuff that there was a run on during the anthrax scare. It is one of the more potent antibiotics and is not generally prescribed lightly.
I’m not a doctor, but my kids went through approximately a million ear infections. I think I’ve had about 2 myself and they are truly excruciating.
I’d be really interested to know why it was Cipro, why a topical, and whether it should be used for a specified time in this situation or not.
MLS, middle ear infections (otitis media) are indeed behind the ear drum and require oral antibiotics. External ear infections (otitis externa) are outside the ear drum and are not responsive to oral antibiotics. The ear drops were likely prescribed for a set number of days and the pharmacist just gave one bottle of it. It’s entirely possible that bernse did take his medication as prescribed and isn’t exposing you to a super-earache bug. Go easy on the fella.
I am quite aware of how antibiotics are usually taken. However, since you are not an MD either, please don’t tell me that I should have FINISHED THE WHOLE PRESCRIPTION from my first bout, since the prescription instructions clearly said to take it only for seven days. USCDiver and Smackfu were correct, I was just given a whole bottle.
Anyhow, for those interested, I did check the expiry date earlier, I just neglected to mention it. I am back to taking the drops.
Cipro drops are for external bacterial otitis, or infection in the outer ear canal. As has been noted, there’s generally plenty left in the bottle, so Friend bernse took them as directed. I don’t prescribe them much, because I like a medication that will also kill fungus. But I have used them in obvious cases of bacterial infections in the outer canal.
As has also been noted, drops won’t do squat for an infection behind the drum (otitis media).
IMHO, the doc would probably want the ear examined before just recommending using the drops again, unless there’s prior knowledge that Friend bernse has a significant tendency towards external otitis.
So I add my weight to the consensus to check with your doc.
It’s best to not give medical advice or criticism if one does not have all the facts. And on a message board, it’s nearly impossible to have all the facts.
The added info and the link make it clear – I had thought you were talking about the classic middle ear infection. The fact that it was swimmer’s ear makes everything more sensible.
