The Best Ear Infection Treatments: Antibiotics and OTC Medications
Many ear infections resolve on their own, but sometimes you’ll need medication. See the best ear infection treatments, including antibiotics and home remedies.
Cortisporin TC
Used for Bacterial Infection, Ear Infection
Used for Bacterial Infection, Ear Infection
Cortisporin TC is a combination medication containing colistin, hydrocortisone, neomycin, and thonzonium. It's an ear drop used to treat ear infections, but it can be expensive since it's only available as a brand medication.
What is Cortisporin TC?
What is Cortisporin TC used for?
- Outer ear infection
- Infections of mastoidectomy and fenestration cavities (ear procedures)
How Cortisporin TC works
Cortisporin TC is a combination of four medications that treats outer ear infections. It contains two antibiotics, neomycin and colistin, that kill bacteria. It also contains a corticosteroid, hydrocortisone, that lowers redness and swelling. Thonzonium helps the medications reach the areas of the outer ear that are infected by allowing them to get through fluid leaking out of your ear and dead skin cells.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Cortisporin TC |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Anti-infective / Corticosteroid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Cortisporin TC
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
- Burning
- Itching
- Irritation
- Dryness
- Pimples or skin rash
Less Common Side Effects
- Skin sensatization (allergic reaction)
- Ototoxicity (ear damage, including ringing in the ears, balance problems, hearing loss, and changes in hearing)
- Nephrotoxicity (damage to the kidneys)
The following Cortisporin TC side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Blistering, burning, itching, peeling, rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of skin irritation
bloody urine
burning and itching of the skin with pinhead-sized red blisters
change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
crusting, dryness, flaking, or scaling of the skin
difficulty in breathing
dizziness
drowsiness
feeling of fullness in the ears
increased thirst
loss of appetite
loss of balance
loss of hearing
ringing or buzzing in the ears
swelling of the feet or lower legs
thinning of the skin with easy bruising
trouble in hearing
vomiting
weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
burning, itching, and pain in hairy areas
increased hair growth on the forehead, back, arms, and legs
lightening of normal skin color
lightening of treated areas of dark skin
pus at the root of the hair
reddish purple lines on the arms, face, legs, trunk, or groin
redness and scaling around the mouth
softening of the skin
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$289.19
GoodRx discount
$229.46
Pros and cons of Cortisporin TC
Pros
- Available as an ear drop for people who have difficulty taking pills
- Can be used with a cotton wick
- Combines 4 medications into one drop for convenience
- No significant interactions with other medications or supplements
Cons
- Only available as a brand medication so it might be expensive
- Needs to be used multiple times a day
- Can't be used for more than 10 days
- Need to lie down for 5 minutes with the affected ear upward after using it
Pharmacist tips for Cortisporin TC
- Before using Cortisporin TC, clean and dry the affected ear with a sterile cotton applicator.
- Shake the medication well before using it.
- Use the dropper that came with the ear drops to apply the medication inside of the affected ear. Don’t touch the tip of the dropper with your fingers and don’t let it touch your ear when you apply the drops to prevent contamination of the medication.
- Lie down on their side with the affected ear facing upward. After the drops are placed into the ear, stay in this position for 5 minutes to make sure the medication gets into the ear.
- A cotton wick can be used by placing it inside of the ear and soaking it with Cortisporin TC. Keep the wick moist by adding more medication every 4 hours. Replace the wick at least once every 24 hours.
- Don’t use Cortisporin TC for more than 10 days to avoid serious side effects, like loss of hearing. Contact your provider if your symptoms have not improved by 10 days of using this medication.
Risks and warnings for Cortisporin TC
Cortisporin TC can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Hearing loss
- Risk factors: Using Cortisporin TC for more than 10 days in a row
Neomycin, one of the antibiotics in Cortisporin TC, can damage parts of your ear and lead to permanent hearing loss. The risk becomes higher the longer you use this medication. Don't use this medication for more than 10 days in a row. If you still have symptoms after 10 days, let your provider know.
Allergy
If your ear becomes more red, swollen, itchy, irritated, or you see a rash around your ear, stop using Cortisporin TC and contact your provider right away. You might be allergic to one of the medications in Cortisporin TC or one of the ingredients used to make the solution. When you stop the medication, your symptoms should improve quickly.
New infection
- Risk factors: Using Cortisporin TC for a long period of time
Cortisporin TC can cause bacteria or fungi that aren't killed by the antibiotics in it to grow and cause another infection. Your risk for getting another infection is higher when you use Cortisporin TC for a long time. Contact your provider if your symptoms don't improve after one week, or you notice fever or worsening of your symptoms.
Cortisporin TC dosage
The average cost for 1 ear dropper of 10ml of Cortisporin TC is $229.46 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 20.65% off the average retail price of $289.19. 
Ear dropper
Ear dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml | 1 ear dropper | $229.46 | $229.46 |
Typical dosage for Cortisporin TC
- Adults: The typical dose is 5 drops of Cortisporin TC placed into the affected ear 3 or 4 times daily.
- Children 1 year and older: The typical dose is 4 drops of Cortisporin TC placed into the affected ear 3 or 4 times daily.
Interactions between Cortisporin TC and other drugs
Cortisporin TC may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Cortisporin TC. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Desmopressin
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abametapir
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Alcuronium
- Aldesleukin
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Atracurium
- Balofloxacin
- Bemiparin
- Besifloxacin
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bupropion
- Celecoxib
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Choline Salicylate
- Cidofovir
- Ciprofloxacin
- Cisatracurium
- Clonixin
- Cobicistat
- Colistimethate Sodium
- Conivaptan
- Decamethonium
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Doxacurium
- Droxicam
- Enoxacin
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Fazadinium
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Fleroxacin
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flumequine
- Flurbiprofen
- Foscarnet
- Fosnetupitant
- Furosemide
- Gallamine
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Hexafluorenium
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Levofloxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
- Macimorelin
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Metocurine
- Mivacurium
- Morniflumate
- Moxifloxacin
- Nabumetone
- Nadifloxacin
- Nadroparin
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Netupitant
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Pancuronium
- Parecoxib
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Pipecuronium
- Piroxicam
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Prulifloxacin
- Rapacuronium
- Rocuronium
- Rofecoxib
- Rufloxacin
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sargramostim
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sorafenib
- Sparfloxacin
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tosufloxacin
- Tubocurarine
- Valdecoxib
- Vecuronium
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alcuronium
- Atracurium
- Auranofin
- Bumetanide
- Colestipol
- Gallamine
- Hexafluorenium
- Licorice
- Metocurine
- Primidone
- Rifapentine
- Saiboku-To
How much does Cortisporin TC cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Cortisporin TC (brand)
$229.46
Cortisporin TC 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 Cortisporin TC will not be safe for you to take.
- Current viral skin infection (e.g., herpes simplex virus or varicella zoster virus) that could be causing your ear symptoms
What are alternatives to Cortisporin TC?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Cortisporin TC. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
News about Cortisporin TC
Cortisporin TC images
