Otovel
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) is a combination antibiotic and steroid medication that treats ear infections in children aged 6 months and older with surgically placed ear tubes (tympanostomy tubes). It's an ear drop that comes in convenient, single-use vials.
What is Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)?
What is Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) used for?
- Middle ear infections in children with ear tubes
How Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) works
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) is a combination of two medications that work together to treat your child's ear infection.
- Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It kills bacteria by blocking chemicals they need to reproduce and repair themselves.
- Fluocinolone is a topical corticosteroid. It helps with inflammation (redness and swelling) and irritation in the ear.
Drug facts
Side effects of Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
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
- Drainage from the ear (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Thicker skin near the application site
- Ear infection
- Ear itching
- Ear drum problem
- Ear swelling
- Feeling off-balance
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reactions: trouble breathing, hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
The following Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- New or worsening ear pain, redness, irritation, or discharge
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
Pros
- Starts working within a few days
- Comes as a ready-to-use vial
- A good option for children who have ear tubes
Cons
- Needs to be warmed in your hands before giving to prevent dizziness
- Must be given twice a day
- Can be expensive
Pharmacist tips for Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
- Use Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) as long as your or your child's healthcare provider told you to, even if you start to feel better. Stopping Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) too soon can cause the infection to come back and be harder to treat.
- Store Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) at room temperature. Right before you use it, warm the vial in your hand for 1 to 2 minutes. This will help prevent dizziness that can happen when cold liquid is dropped in the ear.
- Wash your hands with soap and water, and only open each vial when you're ready to use it, so that the medication stays germ-free.
- Make sure the medication gets fully into the middle ear. To give the dose, lie on your side with the infected ear facing up. For children younger than 3 years of age, gently pull the ear back and down. For people 3 years of age or older, gently pull the ear back and upward. After the dose is in the ear, gently press the tragus (the piece of cartilage at the front of the ear that you press on when blocking your ears) 4 times. Stay lying down in that position for 1 minute.
- Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) should only be used in the ear. Don't use it in the eye or use it as an injection.
Common questions about Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) will start working fairly quickly, since you're putting it directly on the area that's infected. Drainage from the ear usually goes away after 3 to 5 days of using this medication. Remember to take the full course of Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone), even if symptoms start to improve early on, to make sure the infection is completely gone.
Here are some quick tips: wash your hands well before giving each dose, warm the vial in your hand for a minute or two, lie on your side with the infected ear up, pull the top of the ear back when applying the medication, and press on the tragus of the ear (flap of cartilage you normally press to block the ear opening) 4 times. Be sure to stay lying down for a minute afterwards. Check with your provider or pharmacist to make sure that you know how to give this medication to yourself or to your child. It might also help to read over the instructional guide on the Otovel website.
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) and Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone) are very similar medications. Dexamethasone and fluocinolone are both steroid medications that help with inflammation and are often used in combination with ciprofloxacin to treat ear infections. Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) can only be used for middle ear infections inside the ear canal and past the ear drum. But Ciprodex can be used for both middle and outer ear infections (the outer part of the ear canal that you can usually see without special tools).
When it's used for ear infections, Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) works against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These are bacteria that typically cause ear infections.
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Risks and warnings for Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) 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.
Allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergy to other fluoroquinolone antibiotics
Severe allergic reactions to Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) are possible, including life-threatening problems like anaphylaxis (closing of the throat). Call 911 if this happens. If you notice hives, a rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing after using Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone), call your or your child's healthcare provider right away. Let them know if you or your child has an allergy to other fluoroquinolone antibiotics before starting Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone).
New infection after long-term use
- Risk factors: Using Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) for too long
It's possible to get a new infection from fungi or bacteria that are resistant to Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) after using this medication for a while. Don't use this medication longer than prescribed. Let your child's provider know if you notice symptoms of a new infection or if the original symptoms don't get better after using Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) for a week.
Continued or recurring ear drainage
If fluid continues to drain out of the ear after using a full course of Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) or if you notice episodes of drainage 2 or more times within 6 months, let your child's provider know. Your child might need more tests to see if there are other causes that require different treatment.
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) dosage
Vial| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25ml of 0.3%/0.025% | 14 vials | $333.25 | $23.80 |
Typical dosage for Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone)
Each vial is ready to use and contains one full dose. Each vial contains 0.3% of ciprofloxacin and 0.025% of fluocinolone.
Drop all of the liquid from 1 vial into the affected ear twice daily (about every 12 hours) for 7 days. If both ears are infected, use 1 vial for each ear (total of 2 vials per dose).
How much does Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) cost?
$333.25
Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) 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 Otovel (ciprofloxacin / fluocinolone) will not be safe for you to take.
- Allergy to other corticosteroids or other fluoroquinolone antibiotics
- Infections of the outer ear canal caused by viruses (e.g., chickenpox, herpes simplex virus) or fungi
