<p>I have an ear infection, thankfully not very painful, just annoying. The ENT prescribed Cipro. I told him I was uncomfortable taking it. He prescribed another antibiotic in the same family. I said I was uncomfortable taking anything in that family unless I had anthrax or the plague. He won’t prescribe anything different, says that is the only family of drugs which will work. (What do they give little kids?)</p>
<p>My dad had a very bad reaction to Cipro that left him in pain every day for the rest of his life. I am physically very much like him. There are also other reasons that I should not take antibiotics in that family.</p>
<p>Anyway…any suggestions on how to get rid of an ear infection without antibiotics?</p>
<p>Is this an inner ear infection or outer ear infection? Both are painful, though! Outer ear infections can generally be treated with drops and not oral antibiotics.</p>
<p>I know that as my kids were starting to grow out of the ages that were associated with ear infections, there was starting to be some conversation about the possibility that that most ear infections were actually viral. I don’t know if that’s the same sentiment these days or not. </p>
<p>All that being said, I know the two most used antibiotics used on my kids were amoxicillin and augmentin. When D1 was just over a year old, she had so many repeated ear infections (and I was still breastfeeding her) that she was put on a prophylactic dose of one of those antibiotics. While on it, she did not have one ear infection. Within two weeks of taking her off (she’d been on it for a few months), she had another ear infection, so they put her back on it for another few months. Again, as soon as we took her off it, she got another ear infection, so back on it again for another few months. The last time we took her off it she was almost two years old, and didn’t get many more ear infections as a child. So in our experience, it sure seemed to be bacterial because the antibiotics kept her infection-free. </p>
<p>If it’s not painful, you are very, very lucky. I still occasionally get ear infections as an adult, and they can be some of the most painful things I ever experience.</p>
<p>Amoxicillin will no longer hit many of the bacteria that can be found in otitis.
That said, is it really true that the cipro group are the only ones your doc thinks are effective?
I find that really odd.</p>
<p>Increase your vitamin C & use of garlic.
We’ve cured several ear infections using warmed garlic oil into the ear.( capsules are easy to find)
My youngest used to cry so hard after taking the amoxicillin that she would vomit, so I learned to use other remedies.</p>
<p>Ive had neuro effects & tendon pain from floroquolones, I dont blame you for wanting to try something else first for an ear infection.
Over prescribing antibiotics is what got us in this mess, ( along with patients who dont take them correctly.</p>
<p>I second the recommendation of garlic oil. Boil some garlic cloves in olive oil. Let it cool and put a few drops in the infected ear. Repeat a few times a day.</p>
<p>If the OP is talking about a middle- or inner-ear infection (as opposed to an outer-ear or ear canal infection…often called “swimmer’s ear”), putting drops in the ears will do absolutely nothing. The drops will not affect the middle or inner ear in any way.</p>
<p>@churchmusicmom - Don’t disagree but it won’t hurt either so it is worth a try before moving on to antibiotics. Perhaps the OP can clarify the infection type.</p>
<p>I had an inner ear infection this past summer. I don’t recall any time in my adult life when I have had an ear infection and I still don’t know how I even got it.
The doc gave me amoxycillin and it not only didn’t work , but the infection spread to my other ear.
He then put me on a stronger antibiotic ( not cipro ) it took a couple of weeks of treatment, but finally went away.
I read an article yesterday that a rep from CDC saying that antibiotics are close to being rendered useless</p>
<p>If this is a middle ear infection, putting drops into your ear will not help. Your ear drum separates the outer and middle ear. The drops won’t touch the middle ear.</p>
<p>Personally, I would take the antibiotic. You run the risk of the infection worsening and you could end up with ear drum puncture issues if it gets really bad (I’m an NOT a doctor…I’m a speech pathologist). </p>
<p>There is evidence that ear infections CAN run their course without intervention…but you never know when yours will be the one that doesn’t.</p>
<p>Cipro is great because you only take it for a few days. If you are concerned about reactions…just be vigilant about watching for them in yourself.</p>
<p>I would find a new Dr. When you fill out the paperwork, state that you are allergic to cipro. This isn’t life or death, he could try a different antibiotic. </p>
<p>I ended up in the ER with a terrible reaction to cipro. The ER doc refused to believe it was the cipro, but I knew it was. When I went back to my primary I added allergic to cipro to my record.</p>
<p>You are wise to stay away from cipro if you have a reason to believe it could affect you.</p>
<p>I had a reaction to cipro which stayed with me for months and now list it as a medication I’m allergic to on any medical forms, just a as the previous poster mentioned. It CAN hve very harmful effects for some people, although for many it’s a great antibiotic option.</p>
<p>Surely there are other choices for you. I also stay away from any meds from the quinolones family, which apparently is what cipro is.</p>
<p>Sorry I can’t help re the ear infection though. Looks like we have an ENT posting here, so I’d listen to her (him)!</p>
<p>This must just be an outer ear infection. I have had ear infections that caused terrible pain, and this isn’t that type. It mostly seems like I have water in my ear…like I said, annoying rather than painful.</p>
<p>I have a penicillin allergy. </p>
<p>The doctor’s office didn’t take a medical history. As irritiated as I become when my regular doctors have me fill out the same forms every six months, I guess this doctor was relying on the form I filled out in 2008. Reading the online info on the drug, there are four separate reasons why I should not take fluoroquinolones.</p>
<p>Years ago, when one of my sons had an ear infection, the pediatrician suggested lavender oil. </p>
<p>I am believing more and more in natural remedies. I had a toenail fungus for a while and I got rid of it entirely, very quickly, using Vics Vaporub. I didn’t try medical treatment but from what I read it’s not particularly effective.</p>
<p>I have read a lot about how antibiotics are overprescribed for little kids’ ear infections. If bacterial ear infections won’t heal without antibiotics, what’s up with telliing parents not to seek them for their little ones?</p>
<p>I get ear infections virtually every time i get a cold (thankfully, not very often). I hate antibiotics as they do a real number of my stomach. </p>
<p>A big percentage of ear infections are viral and antibiotics really don’t work for them.</p>
<p>I have an ear infection right now and I am taking decongestants (for the cold) and hoping it will simply go away. Ironically, the ear that is infected is bothering me a lot less than the one that isn’t, but is full of fluid.</p>
<p>My doctor prescribes a Z pack for me, which I generally don’t fill unless my ear(s) get worse.</p>