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Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: AlphaDog
Date: July 24, 2009 02:20PM
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.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2009 02:20PM by AlphaDog.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: H1N1
Date: July 24, 2009 02:33PM
Your ears are congested.
You need a Decongestant.
But if your ears were sneezing...
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: AlphaDog
Date: July 24, 2009 02:46PM
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! smiling smiley
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: July 24, 2009 02:48PM
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
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: H1N1
Date: July 24, 2009 02:57PM
Quote
AlphaDog
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! smiling smiley
Claritin-D is what I use for my sinus and ear congestion, it is what the Doctor ordered.
The D is the important part.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: AlphaDog
Date: July 24, 2009 03:00PM
Quote
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

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.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: cbelt3
Date: July 24, 2009 03:02PM
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 !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2009 03:03PM by cbelt3.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: JoeH
Date: July 24, 2009 03:19PM
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.


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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: Racer X
Date: July 24, 2009 04:42PM
decongestants.

and chocolate. Try a Bat Bar, STAT!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2009 04:43PM by Racer X.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: Dennis S
Date: July 24, 2009 07:14PM
Don't swimmers use 1/2 alcohol and 1/2 vinegar?
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: Racer X
Date: July 24, 2009 07:15PM
yeah, that dries out the OUTER ear.
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: WHiiP
Date: July 24, 2009 09:42PM
MY recent problem ( 2 weeks ago) was helped with Zyrtec-D. Over the counter, but controlled (somewhat) by information collected by the personnel at the store. It DEFINITELY helped me.

Good Luck!


Bill
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Carpe Vino!

Fermentation may have been a greater discovery than fire.
— David Rains Wallace
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Re: Fluid in my ear - antihistamine or decongestant?
Posted by: Robert M
Date: July 24, 2009 10:28PM
Whiip,

Zyrtec D is a combination of an antihistimane (the Zyrtec part) and a decongestant (Pseudoephedrine). It covers both bases, which is why it works very well for many people. Typically, it's a 12 hour tablet.

Robert
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