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How do I Choose the Best Inner Ear Infection Treatment?

A.E. Freeman
A.E. Freeman

An inner ear infection, such as labyrinthitis, which occurs when the labyrinth becomes irritated, can sometimes follow an infection of the middle ear or a respiratory infection. In most cases, antibiotics are not an effective inner ear infection treatment because the infection is usually caused by a virus. Typically, inner ear infection treatment involves treating the symptoms of the infection rather than the cause itself. If you have an inner ear infection, you may take anti-nausea medications, sedatives, or antihistamines to help you cope with the symptoms.

One inner ear infection treatment is scopolamine, a small patch that you place on the skin behind your ear. Scopolamine helps treat vertigo caused by an inner ear infection and prevents vomiting. One downside of scopolomine is that it can lead to headaches, nausea, and dizziness if you use it for more than three days and then stop.

There are different types of ear infections.
There are different types of ear infections.

Antihistamines, such as those used to treat allergies or motion sickness, are another inner ear infection treatment that reduces nausea and vomiting. They can also reduce the dizziness that comes with vertigo. Dimenhydrinate, one type of antihistamine, blocks acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, than can make you dizzy. Drowsiness is a common side effect of antihistamines, so they may not work well if you need to stay alert and awake.

Ear infections sometimes require a visit to a physician.
Ear infections sometimes require a visit to a physician.

Depending on the severity of your vertigo, nausea, and vomiting, your doctor may prescribe a stronger medication for your inner ear infection treatment. In some cases, you may need to go on prednisone, a type of corticosteroid. Some people find relief from nausea and vomiting caused by labryinthtis by taking sedatives such as diazepam and lorazepam. Antienemtics such as promethazine and prochlorperazin can also treat nausea and vomiting caused by vertigo and an inner ear infection in severe cases.

Antihistamines may help reduce nausea associated with inner ear infection.
Antihistamines may help reduce nausea associated with inner ear infection.

If the nausea, vertigo, and other symptoms do not negatively impact your life, you may be able to skip treatment for an inner ear infection and have the infection clear up on its own. Being active and exercising can also help you overcome symptoms of vertigo caused by an inner ear infection. In some cases, if the inner ear infection follows a middle ear infection and is caused by bacteria, you may be able to treat it with antibiotics, which your doctor will need to prescribe. It's important that you finish the course, even if you feel better before you've taken all your medicine, to keep the infection from recurring.

Discussion Comments

Talentryto

@ocelot60- Yes, I have used warm compresses when I've had an inner ear infection, and they do help. So do cool compresses when you have this type of infection in the summer. I think both types of compresses ease the symptoms, but they don't do anything to treat the infection. You still need to see a doctor for that.

Ocelot60

Has anyone else heard that using warm compresses on the outside of the ears also helps to calm ear pain from an inner ear infection?

Heavanet

I had an inner ear infection last year, and the vertigo, nausea, and vomiting were worse than my ear symptoms. My doctor gave me medications to treat both, which was a big help.

My best advice for anyone who thinks he or she may be having symptoms of an inner ear infection is to get treatment as soon as possible. This will help prevent the uncomfortable symptoms from getting worse.

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    • There are different types of ear infections.
      By: Lev Dolgatsjov
      There are different types of ear infections.
    • Ear infections sometimes require a visit to a physician.
      By: Alexander Raths
      Ear infections sometimes require a visit to a physician.
    • Antihistamines may help reduce nausea associated with inner ear infection.
      By: Wellford Tiller
      Antihistamines may help reduce nausea associated with inner ear infection.
    • Antihistmines can be one way of treating an inner ear infection.
      By: Jenny Thompson
      Antihistmines can be one way of treating an inner ear infection.
    • Some inner eat infection treatments help reduce vomiting associated with vertigo caused by the infection.
      By: Tom Wang
      Some inner eat infection treatments help reduce vomiting associated with vertigo caused by the infection.
    • An infection of the inner ear can cause dizziness and throw a person's sense of balance off kilter.
      By: kasto
      An infection of the inner ear can cause dizziness and throw a person's sense of balance off kilter.