Topical preparation | Brand name (United States) | Usual dosage* | Corticosteroid | pH | Preservative | Notes | |
Adults | Children | ||||||
Acidifying/antiseptic solution | |||||||
Acetic acid 2% otic solution | Generic (formerly Acetasol or VoSol) | 3 to 5 drops three to four times daily | Children ≥3 years and adolescents: 3 to 5 drops three to four times daily | None | 3.5 to 5 | No additional |
|
Acidifying/antiseptic and corticosteroid combination | |||||||
Acetic acid 2% and hydrocortisone 1% otic solution | Acetasol HC | 3 to 5 drops three to four times daily | Children ≥3 years and adolescents: 3 to 5 drops three to four times daily | Hydrocortisone | 2 to 4 | No additional |
|
Antibiotic and corticosteroid combinations | |||||||
Ciprofloxacin 0.3% and dexamethasone 0.1% otic suspension | Ciprodex | 4 drops twice daily | Infants ≥6 months, children, and adolescents: 4 drops twice daily | Dexamethasone | Buffered | Benzalkonium chloride |
|
Ciprofloxacin 0.2% and hydrocortisone 1% otic suspension | Cipro HC | 3 drops twice daily | Children and adolescents: 3 drops twice daily | Hydrocortisone | Buffered | Benzyl alcohol |
|
Neomycin, polymyxin B, and hydrocortisone otic suspension (each mL contains 3.5 mg neomycin, 10,000 units polymyxin B, and 10 mg hydrocortisone) | Generic (formerly Cortisporin otic) | 4 drops three or four times daily | Children and adolescents: 3 drops three to four times daily | Hydrocortisone | Acidic | Potassium metabisulfite |
|
Neomycin 0.33%, colistin 0.3%, and hydrocortisone 1% otic suspension | Cortisporin-TC | 5 drops three or four times daily | Children ≥1 year and adolescents: 4 drops three to four times daily | Hydrocortisone | 5 | Thimerosal |
|
Tobramycin 0.3% and dexamethasone 0.1% ophthalmic suspensionΔ | TobraDex | 4 drops three or four times daily | Limited data in pediatric patients | Dexamethasone | Buffered | Benzalkonium chloride |
|
Antibiotic solutions | |||||||
Ciprofloxacin 0.2% otic solution | Cetraxal | 0.25 mL twice daily | Children and adolescents: 0.25 mL twice daily | None | Buffered | None; single-use container |
|
Ofloxacin 0.3% otic solution | Generic (formerly Floxin otic) | 10 drops once daily | Infants ≥6 months and children: 5 drops once daily Adolescents: 10 drops once daily | None | 6.5 | Benzalkonium chloride |
|
TM: tympanic membrane.
* Daily dose administered in affected ear; to enhance delivery, patients should be educated on proper administration.
¶ In patients with a suspected or confirmed nonintact TM, avoid nonsterile and ototoxic preparations (ie, containing aminoglycosides or alcohol) as well as acidic preparations as they may reach the middle ear and cause worsening symptoms, pain, and loss of hearing.
Δ Available only as ophthalmic preparation but can be applied directly to the ear to treat acute external otitis.
Data from: UpToDate Lexidrug. More information available at https://online.lexi.com/.
Additional data from: