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.
hydrocortisone / acetic acid
Used for Ear Infection
Used for Ear Infection
Hydrocortisone/acetic acid is a prescription combination medication that's used to treat an outer ear infection (otitis externa or swimmer's ear). This medication contains a corticosteroid (hydrocortisone) that lessens inflammation and an antiseptic (acetic acid) that fights the infection. People 3 years and older can use the hydrocortisone/acetic acid ear drops. The medication is directly placed in the ears several times a day. Although side effects are rare, they can include occasional burning or stinging in the ears.
What is Hydrocortisone/acetic acid?
What is Hydrocortisone/acetic acid used for?
- Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear) in people ages 3 years and older
How Hydrocortisone/acetic acid works
Hydrocortisone/acetic acid is a combination of two medications.
- Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid that helps lower inflammation. When it's used directly in the ear, it helps treat itching, swelling, redness, and pain in the ear.
- Acetic acid is an antiseptic. It stops bacteria and fungi from growing inside your ear by making the area more acidic and harming the germs causing the infection.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Acetasol HC |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Corticosteroid / Antiseptic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Hydrocortisone/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
Less Common Side Effects
- Ear irritation
The following Hydrocortisone/acetic acid 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.
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:
Less common
Anorexia, weakness, weight loss (in children)
stinging, itching, irritation, or burning of the ear
There have not been any other side effects reported with this medicine. However, if you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Get your GoodRx coupon
$176.05
GoodRx discount
$53.76
Pros and cons of Hydrocortisone/acetic acid
Pros
- Contains two medications in a single product that relieves symptoms and fights the ear infection at the same time
- Few side effects
- Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
- Can only be used for outer ear infections
- Must use many times a day
- Hasn't been studied for children under 3 years old
Pharmacist tips for Hydrocortisone/acetic acid
- Place hydrocortisone/acetic acid drops in the ears only. Don't use the drops anywhere else in or on the body; this can be harmful.
- Use hydrocortisone/acetic acid ear drops exactly as prescribed. Don't change your dose or suddenly stop using the medication, even if you feel better. Stopping your treatment course earlier than prescribed can cause the infection to come back and be harder to treat.
- Remember to wash your hands before and after putting hydrocortisone/acetic acid 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 lessen the chance that your infection gets worse and of any new infections.
- Gently clean and dry your ear before you use hydrocortisone/acetic acid. Remove any dirt or wax so that the medication can reach the infected parts of the ear.
- How to use hydrocortisone/acetic acid ear drops: Lie down or tilt your head so the affected ear is facing up. Pull your ear back and upwards, and place the drops into the ear. Then, gently push the triangular piece of skin (the tragus) over the ear so that the medication can get into the ear better. Stay with the affected ear up for at least a few minutes. Use a clean tissue or cotton ball to wipe away any extra medication that drips out of the ear.
- You might feel a little stinging or burning in the ear after you use hydrocortisone/acetic acid, especially when you first start using the medication. This is a normal reaction that happens when the medication gets to the inflamed parts in your ear. The stinging or burning feeling should go away as the ear starts to heal.
- Speak to a healthcare professional if your symptoms (e.g., pain, itching, redness, hearing problems) don't start to get better after you've used hydrocortisone/acetic acid for a couple days. Sometimes, swimmer's ear can worsen and become a more serious problem, so it's important to treat it as soon as possible.
- Keep the hydrocortisone/acetic acid ear drops at room temperature (up to 77 degrees Fahrenheit).
Hydrocortisone/acetic acid dosage
The average cost for 1 ear dropper of 10ml of 1%/2% of Hydrocortisone/acetic acid is $53.76 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 69.46% off the average retail price of $176.05. 
Ear dropper
Ear dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10ml of 1%/2% | 1 ear dropper | $53.76 | $53.76 |
Typical dosage for Hydrocortisone/acetic acid
Soak a piece of cotton with hydrocortisone/acetic acid and place it in the infected ear(s). You can also put the cotton in the ear first and then wet it with the hydrocortisone/acetic acid drops. Leave the cotton in the ear(s) for at least 24 hours. Add 3 to 5 drops of hydrocortisone/acetic acid every 4 to 6 hours to keep it wet.
Take out the cotton after 24 hours, but continue to put 5 drops of hydrocortisone/acetic acid in the infected ear(s) 3 or 4 times per day, as instructed by a healthcare professional. Some children with smaller ears might only need 3 or 4 drops at a time.
Interactions between Hydrocortisone/acetic acid and other drugs
Hydrocortisone/acetic acid 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 Hydrocortisone/acetic acid. 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
- Aldesleukin
- Amtolmetin Guacil
- Balofloxacin
- Bemiparin
- Besifloxacin
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bupropion
- Celecoxib
- Choline Salicylate
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clonixin
- Cobicistat
- Conivaptan
- Dexibuprofen
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Enoxacin
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenoprofen
- Fepradinol
- Feprazone
- Fleroxacin
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flumequine
- Flurbiprofen
- Fosnetupitant
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Ibuprofen
- Indomethacin
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Levofloxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Lornoxicam
- Loxoprofen
- Lumiracoxib
- Lutetium Lu 177 Dotatate
- Macimorelin
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Morniflumate
- Moxifloxacin
- Nabumetone
- Nadifloxacin
- Nadroparin
- Naproxen
- Nepafenac
- Netupitant
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Oxaprozin
- Oxyphenbutazone
- Parecoxib
- Pazufloxacin
- Pefloxacin
- Phenylbutazone
- Piketoprofen
- Piroxicam
- Pranoprofen
- Proglumetacin
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Prulifloxacin
- Rofecoxib
- Rufloxacin
- Salicylic Acid
- Salsalate
- Sargramostim
- Sodium Salicylate
- Sparfloxacin
- Sulindac
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolfenamic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Tosufloxacin
- Valdecoxib
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
- Colestipol
- Gallamine
- Hexafluorenium
- Licorice
- Metocurine
- Primidone
- Rifapentine
- Saiboku-To
How much does Hydrocortisone/acetic acid cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Hydrocortisone/acetic acid (generic)
$53.76
Hydrocortisone/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 Hydrocortisone/acetic acid will not be safe for you to take.
- Perforated eardrum (also known as ruptured eardrum)
- Certain viral infections (e.g., herpes simplex, varicella)
What are alternatives to Hydrocortisone/acetic acid?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Hydrocortisone/acetic acid. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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