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Acetic Acid Coupon - Acetic Acid 15ml of 2% ear dropper

acetic acid

Generic Vosol
Used for Ear Infection
Used for Ear Infection

Acetic acid ear drops are used to treat an outer ear infection (otitis externa or swimmer's ear). It's a prescription antiseptic that stops bacteria from growing. This helps to treat symptoms, such as inflammation, pain, and redness, in the ear(s). Acetic acid ear drops are approved for people ages 3 years and older. The ear drops are placed in the affected ear(s) several times a day. Side effects aren't common, but there can be occasional burning or stinging in the ears.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Aileen Chu, PharmD, BCPS
reviewer
Robert Chad Hakim, PharmD, BCCCP
Last reviewed on May 28, 2024
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsDosageCostContraindicationsAlternativesLatest newsImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Acetic acid?

What is Acetic acid used for?

  • Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear) in people ages 3 years and older

How Acetic acid works

Acetic acid is an antiseptic. It makes the inside of your ear more acidic, which harms the germs causing the ear infection. This stops bacteria and fungi from growing inside your ear.

Are you looking for information on hydrocortisone/acetic acid ear drops instead?

Drug Facts

Common BrandsVosol (brand name no longer available)
Drug Class Antiseptic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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Avg retail price
$39.84(save 57.58%)
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$16.90
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What are the side effects of Acetic acid?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Stinging in the ear
  • Burning feeling in the ear

Other Side Effects

  • Ear irritation

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Acetic acid

thumbs-up

Pros

Works directly in the ears

Few side effects

Can give to children as young as 3 years old

thumbs-down

Cons

Doesn't work as well as corticosteroid-containing drops (e.g., hydrocortisone/acetic acid)

Will need to keep a piece of cotton soaked with acetic acid in the ear for at least the first day of treatment

Must be used many times a day

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Acetic acid

pharmacist

  • Only use acetic acid in the ear. Don't place the medication anywhere else in or on the body because it might be harmful.

    • Use acetic acid ear drops exactly as prescribed. Don't change your dose or suddenly stop using the medication, even if your infected ear gets better. Stopping your treatment course too soon can cause the infection to come back and be harder to treat.

      • Make sure to wash your hands before and after putting acetic acid drops in your ears. Don't let the dropper tip touch your ear or any other surface, and don't touch the tip with your hands. This helps prevent the ear drops from getting contaminated with germs, which will help you avoid future or worse infections.

        • Gently clean and dry your ear before you use acetic acid. Remove all dirt and wax in the ear so that the medication can get in direct contact with the infected parts of the ear.

          • How to use acetic acid ear drops: Lie down or tilt your head with the affected ear facing upward. Pull the ear back and upwards, and place the drops into the ear. Then, gently press the triangular piece of skin over the ear (the tragus) to help the medication get into the ear better. Keep the affected ear facing upwards for at least a few minutes. Use a clean tissue or cotton ball to lightly wipe away any extra medication that comes out of the ear after you get up.

            • It's normal to feel some stinging or burning in the ear, especially when you first start using acetic acid, because of the inflammation in your ear. This should go away as the ear starts to heal.

              • Talk to a healthcare professional if your symptoms (e.g., pain, itching, redness, hearing problems) don't start to get better after a couple days of using acetic acid. Swimmer's ear can sometimes become a more serious problem, so it's best to treat it as soon as possible.

                • Store the acetic acid ear drop bottle at room temperature.

                  faqs

                  Frequently asked questions about Acetic acid

                  Do acetic acid ear drops expire?
                  Yes, acetic acid ear drops can expire. Look for the expiration date that's written on the medication box or bottle. Don't use the acetic acid ear drops past the written expiration date because it might not work well to help treat your ear infection. Ask a pharmacist if you're not sure whether the acetic acid ear drops you have are expired.
                  How long to let acetic acid ear drops sit in the ear?
                  When you first start treatment with acetic acid ear drops, you should keep a cotton soaked with acetic acid in the affected ear(s) for at least 24 hours. Take the cotton out after 24 hours, and continue to place drops of acetic acid directly in the ear as prescribed. Once you place the drops, just leave the medication as is; you don't need to wash out the medication from your ear(s). Ask your prescriber if you're not sure how many drops of acetic acid you should use or how often you should use acetic acid ear drops.
                  Are acetic acid ear drops supposed to burn?
                  Yes, it's normal to occasionally feel a little bit of burning and stinging right after placing acetic acid drops into the ear. This is especially likely in the beginning of treatment when there's a lot of ear inflammation. The burning and stinging sensation might get better as you continue using the medication. Contact your prescriber if the burning or stinging feeling doesn't seem to get better or if it seems like you're becoming more sensitive to the medication over time.
                  Can you buy acetic acid ear drops over the counter?
                  No. Acetic acid ear drops are only available by a prescription from a healthcare professional.
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                  dosage

                  Acetic acid dosage forms

                  The average cost for 1 ear dropper of 15ml of 2% of Acetic acid is $16.90 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 57.58% off the average retail price of $39.84.
                  ear dropper
                  Ear dropper
                  DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                  15ml of 2%1 ear dropper$16.90$16.90

                  Typical dosing for Acetic acid

                  Soak a piece of cotton with acetic acid and place it in the infected ear(s). Or, you can place the cotton in the ear first and then wet it with the acetic acid drops. Leave the cotton in the ear(s) for at least 24 hours. Make sure to add 3 to 5 drops of acetic acid every 4 to 6 hours to keep it wet.

                  Remove the cotton after 24 hours, but continue placing 5 drops of acetic acid in the infected ear(s) 3 or 4 times per day, as directed by a healthcare professional. Some children with smaller ears might only need 3 or 4 drops at a time.

                  drug-cost

                  How much does Acetic acid cost?

                  To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
                  Vosol (brand)
                  GoodRx lowest price

                  $16.90

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                  Acetic acid (generic)
                  GoodRx lowest price

                  $16.90

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                  contraindications-icon

                  Acetic acid contraindications

                  Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Acetic acid will not be safe for you to take.
                  alternatives

                  What are alternatives to Acetic acid?

                  There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Acetic acid. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                  Acetic acid
                  Used for:

                  • Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear) in people ages 3 years and older

                  $16.90 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Hydrocortisone/acetic acid
                  Used for:

                  • Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear) in people ages 3 years and older

                  $62.01 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  Ofloxacin ear drops
                  Used for:
                  $18.88 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                  images

                  Acetic acid images

                  colorless - Acetic Acid 2% Otic Solution
                  This medicine is Colorless Ear Dropper.colorless - Acetic Acid 2% Otic Solution
                  yellow - Acetic Acid 2% Otic Solution
                  This medicine is Yellow Ear Dropper.yellow - Acetic Acid 2% Otic Solution

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                  References

                  Best studies we found

                  Chartwell RX, LLC. (2024). Acetic acid solution [package insert]. DailyMed.

                  Feng, L., et al. (2022). Evaluation of the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-virulence effects of acetic acid and the related mechanisms on colistin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. BioMed Central Microbiology.

                  MedlinePlus. (2022). Ruptured eardrum.

                  View All References (4)

                  National Human Genome Research Institute. (n.d.). Anatomy of the ear.

                  SafeMedication. (n.d.). How to use ear drops.

                  U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2019). Combating antibiotic resistance.

                  van Balen, F. A., et al. (2003). Clinical efficacy of three common treatments in acute otitis externa in primary care: Randomised controlled trial. The British Medical Journal.

                  GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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