Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?

[AlphaDog]

It doesn't hurt, but the sound of fluid shifting every time I move my head is very annoying. I did a Google search, but all of the responses seemed to be from/for people who had ear infections, and that's not the case with me. I just have a gurgly ear, and I can never remember which of the two drugs I'm supposed to take to get it to dry up.

[H1N1]

Your ears are congested.
You need a Decongestant.
But if your ears were sneezing...

[AlphaDog]

H1N1 wrote:
Your ears are congested.
You need a Decongestant.
But if your ears were sneezing...

Thank you. Let's hope they don't start sneezing, too!

[Robert M]

ALpha,

Antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Benadryl control allergic reactions, i.e. itchy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, etc. They won't do much for congestion unless said congestion is the result of an allergic reaction. In that case, dealing with the allergen will reduce the congestion. A decongestant such as Sudafed will deal with the congestion and reduce or eliminate it temporarily. But, like antihistamines, a decongestant is only temporary solution. You need find the root cause of the allergy or, in your case, the congestion and deal with it.

You may want to contact your doctor and see what he/she advises. At the least, he/she will help you find the cause of the fluid in your ear and take appropriate action to deal with it. As someone who has dealt with the issue you've described (and allergies and congestion) for nearly my entire life, I usually don't consider fluid in the ears congestion. Typically, it appears only when I'm fighting an infection of some sort, i.e. ear or sinus infection. You could very well have one, the other or both and not even realize it.

Robert

[H1N1]

AlphaDog wrote:
[quote=H1N1]
Your ears are congested.
You need a Decongestant.
But if your ears were sneezing...

Thank you. Let's hope they don't start sneezing, too! Claritin-D is what I use for my sinus and ear congestion, it is what the Doctor ordered.
The D is the important part.

[AlphaDog]

Robert M wrote:
ALpha,

Antihistamines such as Zyrtec and Benadryl control allergic reactions, i.e. itchy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, etc. They won't do much for congestion unless said congestion is the result of an allergic reaction. In that case, dealing with the allergen will reduce the congestion. A decongestant such as Sudafed will deal with the congestion and reduce or eliminate it temporarily. But, like antihistamines, a decongestant is only temporary solution. You need find the root cause of the allergy or, in your case, the congestion and deal with it.

You may want to contact your doctor and see what he/she advises. At the least, he/she will help you find the cause of the fluid in your ear and take appropriate action to deal with it. As someone who has dealt with the issue you've described (and allergies and congestion) for nearly my entire life, I usually don't consider fluid in the ears congestion. Typically, it appears only when I'm fighting an infection of some sort, i.e. ear or sinus infection. You could very well have one, the other or both and not even realize it.

Robert

I know the root cause; it's a prescription medication that I'd been taking for over a year before the doctors figured out it was causing problems for me. I've been off of it for a little over three weeks now, but not all of the side effects have gone away yet. Normally I have a cough and/or runny nose, but I've had the fluid-in-my-ear before, too. It just happens to be particularly annoying today.

[cbelt3]

As Robert noted.

However....

Home remedies I've successfully used in the past involve rubbing alcohol gently poured into the ear canal to essentially dissolve the 'plug' that slowed the normal release of fluid from inside the ear, and also kill any fungus that developed therein (commonly referred to as 'swimmer's ear'.

In fact last weekend I 'cured' my complaining 11 year old of a 'horrible earache' using this exact method. The fact that I had to basically hold his head down because he was thrashing around (he's a drama king) made it o so fun. Of course he reported that the pain was completely gone and he was all better within 30 minutes.

Disclaimer- I'm not a doctor, nor have I played one on TV. This cure came to me from my mother, and to her from her mother, and probably down throughout time. I fully expect that they were using whiskey for that purpose three generations ago.


ED- the ever entertaining wagging your head from side to side is only useful for people watching you. Louie might find it amusing !

[JoeH]

cbelt3's solution works if the fluid is in the ear canal, but not if the fluid is inside the eardrum. I also have had to deal with this problem for decades. Mine is almost always inside the drum and clears up with the help of decongestants. Usually the cause is nasal congestation blocking the eustachian tubes that drain the sinuses and ears to the throat. Most of the time I have managed to not get an actual infection in the ear requiring antibiotics or antiviral medication.

[Racer X]

decongestants.

and chocolate. Try a Bat Bar, STAT!

[Dennis S]

Don't swimmers use 1/2 alcohol and 1/2 vinegar?